Philippines’ COVID-19 deaths now 88; cases breach 2,000

The death toll in the Philippines due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) climbed to 88 on Tuesday after the Department of Health (DOH) confirmed 10 more fatalities.

Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire also announced 538 new infections, bringing the total number of cases nationwide to 2,084.

The number of recoveries, meanwhile, rose by seven to a total of 49.

The DOH earlier announced that over 40 hospitals and laboratories are seeking certification to conduct COVID-19 testing as the government moves to increase the country’s testing capacity. 

Aside from the national reference laboratory Research Institute for Tropical Medicine, six other sub-national laboratories nationwide are also conducting COVID-19 testing. 

DOH data show that all seven laboratories have conducted a total of 15,337 tests, including retests and validation, as of Monday.

Of this number, 2,388 came out positive, 11,129 were negative, while 1,820 others were “equivocal,” meaning it is unsure if they are negative or positive.

Vergeire also said the DOH has delivered test kits that can perform 40,700 tests to the certified sub-national laboratories as well as the Western Visayas Medical Center and Bicol Public Health Laboratory.

Meanwhile, 968 people nationwide are under investigation for possible infection while 6,321 others are under monitoring.

Ten new deaths

The ten new fatalities, all Filipinos, were identified as Patients 935, 798, 1,419, 1,032, 2,045, 1,372, 1,508, 862, 1,240, and 1,680.

Patient 935 was an 83-year-old male from Parañaque City with no travel history who died on March 29 of acute respiratory distress syndrome secondary to COVID-19. He also had chronic kidney disease, hypertension, and diabetes.

Patient 798 was a 74-year-old male Quezon City resident with no travel history who died on March 29 due to community-acquired pneumonia and COVID-19. He also had hypertension, diabetes, and cardiac disease.

Patient 1,419 was a 69-year-old male from Quezon City with no travel and exposure history who died on March 30 due to septic shock secondary to community-acquired pneumonia. He also had hypertension and cerebrovascular accident infarct.

Patient 1,032 was a hypertensive and diabetic 64-year-old female Manila resident with no history of travel who died on March 27 due to acute respiratory distress syndrome secondary to community-acquired high-risk pneumonia.

Patient 2,045 was a hypertensive 60-year-old male from Quezon City whose travel history is still unknown. He died on March 26 due to acute respiratory distress syndrome secondary to high-risk pneumonia.

Patient 1,372 was an 89-year-old male Caloocan City resident with unknown travel history who died on March 28 due to several complications secondary to COVID-19. He also had chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, diabetes, and dyslipidemia

Patient 1,508 was a hypertensive 72-year-old male from Rizal whose travel history is still unknown. He died on March 26 but his COVID-19 test results only came back positive the following day. He died of fatal arrhythmia, hyperkalemia, acute kidney injury, and acute respiratory failure.

Patient 862 was a hypertensive 78-year-old male from Quezon City with unknown travel history who died on March 25 but only tested positive for COVID-19 the following day. He died of acute respiratory failure secondary to community-acquired high-risk pneumonia.

Patient 1,240 was a 51-year-old male San Juan resident whose travel history remains unknown. He died on March 28 due to numerous complications and COVID-19 and also had hyperthyroidism.

Patient 1,680 was a 51-year old female from Rizal with unknown travel history who died on March 24 but only tested positive for COVID-19 the next day. She died of acute respiratory distress syndrome secondary to high-risk pneumonia, and severe acute respiratory Infection. -LDF/MDM, GMA News