Manila reveals 2 new confirmed cases of coronavirus

MANILA: A senior government official on Friday revealed that two new cases — both males — of the novel coronavirus ( COVID-19) have been confirmed, bringing to five the total number of patients found positive of the dreaded disease in the country.

Health Secretary Francisco Duque told a media briefing that one of the patients could be considered the first case of local transmission of the ailment since he has not been out of the country.

He added that the patient, aged 62, who was found to be suffering from diabetes and hypertension, was a regular visitor to a Muslim prayer hall located inside a popular shopping centre in Metro Manila.

On Feb.25, the patient experienced flu-like symptoms of the disease like cough and sore throat and was rushed to the hospital where he was found to have a severe case of pneumonia, according to Duque.

Later, Duque reported tests found him positive of COVID-19 and was brought to the governmentrun Regional Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) located in Metro Manila and that he has “no known history of travel outside the country.”

Health workers are now tracing the people the patient had come in contact with during his visits to the prayer hall, Duque said.

He also disclosed this stood in sharp contrast to the case of the second male, 48 years old, who visited Japan and returned to the Philippines on Feb.25 after which he experienced fever and chills on March 3.

The patient tested positive for COVID-19 two days later on March 5 and was brought to the RITM where he is now in “stable condition,” Duque said.

“These recent developments,” Duque emphasised, “are significant but we are prepared to respond to their potential consequences ... we could still contain the spread of the virus in the country.” Duque cited the protocols adopted by the Philippines in line with the recommendations of the World Health Organisation ( WHO) amid increasing fears due to the rapid spread of COVID-19 throughout the world.