Total of 3 Confirmed COVID-19 Cases in the Philippines... Increased by 1 Person

Philippine Authorities: "Confirmed Patient Has Already Departed for China"

[Asia Economy Reporter Ki-min Lee] The number of confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus infection (Wuhan pneumonia) in the Philippines has increased by one, bringing the total to three. The Philippines is the first country outside China to report a death caused by the novel coronavirus.

According to local media on the 5th, the Philippine Department of Health confirmed that a 60-year-old Chinese woman, Ms. A, who entered Cebu City in central Philippines via Hong Kong from Wuhan, Hubei Province, China on the 20th of last month and then moved to Bohol Province, tested positive.

Ms. A was asymptomatic upon entry but visited a hospital in Bohol Province on the 22nd of last month due to symptoms such as high fever, and underwent detailed tests on the 23rd and 24th of the same month.

Test results from samples collected on the 24th showed no relation to the novel coronavirus, and Ms. A was discharged and returned to Shenzhen, China with her party on the 31st. However, the Philippine Tropical Medicine Institute continued testing samples collected from Ms. A on the 23rd and confirmed the novel coronavirus infection.

Regarding the negative test result from the sample collected on the 24th, Eric Domingo, Deputy Secretary of the Philippine Department of Health, explained, "It appears that the sample was taken when the patient was almost recovered."

The Philippine health authorities are tracing close contacts focusing on the hotel, hospital, and flights used by Ms. A during her stay and entry/exit.

Previously, on the 21st of last month, two Chinese men and women who entered via Hong Kong were confirmed to have the novel coronavirus, and the male patient died on the 2nd of this month.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.