The Department of Health announced on Wednesday that the total number of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) cases in the Philippines has risen to 202 with 15 new additional cases.
The DOH also said in a statement that three patients have died today due to COVID-19 which brings the total number of deaths in the country to 17.
All three patients had pre-existing medical conditions before testing positive for the novel coronavirus disease.
The 58-year-olf patient who died from the virus is the 15th death recorded due to Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) or a respiratory failure due to the rapid inflammation of the lungs. Patient 201 who was from Lanao del Sur has expired before being confirmed positive of COVID-19.
The 16th patient to die from the coronavirus disease was a 65-year-old male from Pasig City and had a travel history from London. The patient had pre-existing Hypertension and Diabetes Millitus. The patient died from ARDS and pneumonia.
Patient 167 who is the 17th recorded death was an 86-year-old female from San Juan City who had no travel history and no known contact with another patient who has COVID-19. The patient died from septic shock secondary to high-risk pneumonia and COVID-19.
However, DOH also reported that there are three new patients who have recovered from the coronavirus disease, which brings the total number to seven recoveries in the country.
Patient 15, a 24-year-old male Filipino from Makati City has tested negative twice for COVID-19 and has been discharged on March 15. The patient has a travel history to United Arab Emirates.
The 6th patient to recover is 34-year-old male from Camarines Sur and is one of the repatriates from the Diamond Princess Cruise Ship and has also tested negative twice for the coronavirus disease as confirmed by the Jose B. Lingad Memorial Regional Hospital.
Patient 13 is the 7th patient who recovered from the virus in the country and has tested negative once as confirmed by Makati Medical Center. Patient 13 has travelled in Australia and was admitted in the hospital on March 6. The patient is now awaiting the 2nd result of his tests and was discharged on March 15.
The Philippines has been declared to be in a state of calamity by President Rodrigo Duterte following the continuing rise of COVID-19 cases in the country, and the entire Luzon has been placed on “community quarantine” from March 17 until April 12.