Primer’s COVID-19 Daily Update: April 8, 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:

Today’s number of cases

As of 4 p.m. today, the Department of Health (DOH) reported 106 new cases of COVID-19 in the country, raising the total number to 3,870. DOH also reported 12 additional recoveries and 5 new mortalities resulting in a total of 96 recoveries and 182 mortalities.

Quezon City’s prototype COVID-19 swab test booth

The local government of Quezon City has acquired a prototype of the COVID-19 swab test booth developed by engineers of Mapua University and USHER Technologies, which will be used for community testing in the city.

Led by the Dean of School of Civil, Environmental, and Geological Engineering Dr. Francis Aldrine Uy, the said prototype was based on the Korean testing booths equipped with negative pressure that prevents air from circulating, thus protecting health workers from getting infected.

A pair of swab testing booths will be designated in Quezon City General Hospital, Novaliches District Hospital, and Rosario Maclang Bautista General Hospital.

PH now has 11 COVID-19 laboratories

DOH confirmed that there are now 11 laboratories accredited to conduct COVID-19 tests in the country. This increases the overall testing capacity now that mass testing is eyed to happen on April 14.

Adding to the list is The Medical City in Ortigas which was recently accredited. Nine of the 11 labs are government-run while two are private hospitals including St. Lukes Medical Center. 

Also read: Laboratories That Offer COVID-19 Testing in PH

Cavite to have its own PCR, DOH-RITM accredited testing lab

The province of Cavite will soon have its own Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and DOH-Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) accredited COVID-19 testing laboratory, making the province the first in Luzon to provide a laboratory.

According to Remulla’s Facebook post, the province is already one step away from full accreditation with the help of DOH and RITM.

As of today, there are 77 positive cases in the province.

Trece Martires in Cavite records first COVID-19 case

In a Facebook post, Trece Martires City Mayor Gemma Lubigan announced the first positive case of COVID-19 in the city—a suspected Patient Under Investigation (PUI) who was then confirmed to test positive after death.

As a preventive measure, Mayor Lubigan put Barangay Lapidario and Barangay Inocencio under extreme enhanced community quarantine effective April 7.

UAAP Season 82 canceled due to ECQ extension

The University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP), Inc. announced that the rest of  UAAP Season 82 is canceled due to the extension of the enhanced community quarantine in Luzon.

In a statement signed by UAAP President Emmanuel M. Fernandez and Executive Director Atty. Rene Saguisag, the resumption of UAAP Season 82 “can no longer be met.”

The league’s collegiate events such as volleyball and basketball were canceled while baseball, softball, athletics, lawn tennis, and 3×3 basketball did not have a game day this season.

Central Visayas records zero COVID-19 deaths for two days

The DOH 7 (Central Visayas) recorded zero fatality related to COVID-19 for two consecutive days. 

According to DOH-7 situation report on April 7, the last two confirmed deaths were reported last Sunday which brought the total mortalities in the region to eight.

A total of 132 specimens were tested from April 6 and 7 at the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center Sub-National Laboratory and discovered one positive case among the specimens. 

Full-scale testing in Bicol Public Health Laboratory

The Bicol Public Health Laboratory (BPHL) is now on full-scale implementation of COVID-19 testing as they have been conducting Real Time-Polymerase Chain Reaction Test (RT-PCR) for the pandemic.

This is one of DOH’s strategies to fight the threat of the virus by expanding testing capacities to flatten the curve. As of writing, the department confirms 10 laboratories are capable of doing the RT-PCR tests.

Cebu Pacific extends flexible self-service options

Due to COVID-19 and the extension of the enhanced community quarantine, Cebu Pacific Air is extending its flexible self-service options for guests who wish to change their flights from May 1 to September 30, 2020.

Further, guests affected by the flight cancellation from April 15 to 30 may choose to have a free rebooking with a waived change fee for up to one year, a full travel fund valid for one year, or a full refund via their website.

---

Sources: Philippine News Agency, The UAAP Facebook page, DOH Central Visayas Center for Health Development Facebook page, Mapua University, Department of Health Facebook page, Cebu Pacific Facebook page