Primer’s COVID-19 Daily Update: March 28, 2020

To keep you in the loop on the recent COVID-19 situation in the Philippines, Philippine Primer rounded up the latest updates you need to know:

Number of cases

As of 5:25 p.m. today, the Deparment of Health has recorded 272 new cases of COVID-19 in the Philippines, raising the total number of cases to 1,075 cases.

Bicol and Bugallon records first cases 

In a statement released by the Deparment of Health Center for Health Development (DOH CHD) – Bicol, the region has confirmed its first three cases breaking its COVID-free status.

The patients—a 48 year-old female and two males, a 50 year-old, and a 53-year old were reported to have tested positive for COVID-19.  No additional information have been disclosed regarding their travel or health history.

Dr. Ernie V. Vera, the Regional Director of DOH CHD-Bicol calls on the public to strictly follow the precautionary measures and stay home to refrain any further spread of the virus.

Bugallon City Mayor Priscilla “Mely” I. Espino also announced the first case of COVID-19 in the city. The patient, who is a resident of Barangay Salomague Sur, was stated to have violated the Full Disclosure Policy by not informing the authorities that he/she is a Person Under Investigation (PUI).

Additionally, the patient has also failed to disclose his/her travel history of arriving from Manila on March 26, 2020 at 12 n.n.

Immediate reports have been sent to Pangasinan Health Office (PHO) and necessary measures such as contract tracing of the five passengers who were present with the patient during travel and an immediate lockdown on the barangay of Salomague Sur have been established to monitor the possible spread of COVID-19.

DOH Central Visayas reports new cases of COVID-19

The Department of Health Central Visayas Center for Health Development (DOH CVCHD), reports 19 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 bringing the total number of cases in the region to 22.

Moreover, the test results in Central Visayas as of March 28, 2020, show that out of 229 conducted tests, 210 have been marked negative.

RITM Apologizes to Congressman Eric Go Yap for clerical oversight, delivers test kits to Subnational Laboratories

In a statement released on Friday, the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) publicly apologized to Congressman Eric Go Yap concerning his COVID-19 results as a case of clerical oversight. 

RITM further clarifies that the error was discovered by the Molecular Biology Laboratory (MBL) of the Department of Health-Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (DOH-RITM) and that his results were a “false positive” and that “Rep. Yap remains negative of COVID-19.”

Congressman Eric Yap accepted RITM’s apology in a statement he released on his Facebook page and added that he understands the medical facility’s situation and that mistakes are unavoidable due to the pressure that they have been receiving. He also added that RITM will be given sufficient funds and that he respects and admires all the medical frontliners.

Under the DOH’s efforts to provide better and faster diagnostics in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, RITM also delivers test kits to all Subnational Laborities (SNL).

Consisting of 5,000 test kits, all subnational laboratories may increase the number of mass testing to help combat the new coronavirus.

The Bureau of Customs facilitates immediate release of donated personal protective equipment

Under the help of the Bureau of Customs, 48 cartons of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) donated by Xiamen Boson Biotech, arrived at the Chinese General Hospital on March 27, 2020.

The donation, which contains medical supplies and protective gears are to be given to all the medical staff and frontliners of the said hospital. 

Entire province of Laguna under total lockdown

Governor Ramil Hernandez implements the entire province of Laguna under total lockdown. Several companies and businesses are to temporarily pause their operations given the few exceptions:

Establishments such as:

• banks
• money transfer services
• groceries
• public markets
• pharmacies
• food chains (for take out of delivery only)

Authorized personnel outside residence that are allowed to enter Laguna are the following:

• telecommunications
• energy companies
• emergency responders
• security services
• medical services
• funeral services
• water companies
• sanitation

Other authorized persons include:

• private individual availing the services of the mentioned establishments
• government skeletal force of the executive branch
• capital market personnel
• DOLE skeletal staff for Tulong Hanapbuhay sa Ating disadvantaged/displaced Workers (TUPAD)
• business processing outsourcing (BPO)
• critical transportation facilities employees
• heads of mission of designated foriegn mission representatives
• hotel employees and tenants who have existing long term leases and booking accomodations as of March 17, 2020
• outbound and inbound international passengers and drivers
• senators and congressmen with their CoS
• department secretaries, USEC and ASEC
• bureau directors
• Ombudsman and Deputy Ombudsman
• Justices of SC, CA, CTA and Sandigan Bayan
• Judges of the Regional, Metropolitan, City and Municipal Trial Courts
• governors
• media personalities including PCOO and its attached agencies
• Civil Aviation Related Services Personnel

He then urges the public to strictly comply to the new rules to ensure the safety of their health.

PNP Anti-Cybercrime Group tasked to track sources of fake news

The Philippine National Police (PNP), under the instruction of Interior Secretary Eduardo Año of DILG, were tasked to arrest anyone who spreads fake news regarding COVID-19 that could bring harm by causing panic to the public. 

Four individuals have been caught by the PNP in Laguna and Cebu and will face charges for violating the 2012 Cybercrime Prevention Act.

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Sources: Department of Health Center for Development – Bicol, Bugallon Mayor Priscilla I. Espino’s Facebook Page, Department of Health Central Visayas Center for Health Development, Research Institute for Tropical Medicine, Department of Health , Governor Ramil Hernandez Facebook Page, Presidential Communications (Government of the Philippines)