More recovered patients than deaths in latest PH COVID tally
Published Apr 19, 2020 12:00 am
By Analou De Vera
The number of patients who have recovered from the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continues to increase as 56 new recoveries were reported on Sunday by the Department of Health (DOH).
Department of Health (MANILA BULLETIN)
Based on the latest case bulletin, the total number of recoveries in the country is now at 572.
The Health department also reported that 12 more patients died due to COVID-19, raising the death toll in the Philippines to 409.
The Department of Foreign Affairs confirmed yesterday the death of Philippine Honorary Consul to Sweden Erik Belfrage due to COVID-19.
Meanwhile, there are 172 more patients afflicted with COVID-19, bringing the total cases in the country to 6,259.
Don’t discriminate
Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Veregeire appealed to the public to avoid discriminating against people who have recovered from the dreaded disease.
“Nakatanggap po ang Kagawaran ng mga reports na ang ilan sa ating mga COVID-19 patients at ang mga dating pasyente na gumaling na ay nakakaranas ng iba’t-ibang uri ng diskriminasyon sa kanilang mga komunidad,” said Vergeire.
“Napagtagumpayan na po ng ating mga survivors ang COVID-19. Huwag naman po sana nating iparamdam sa kanila na matapos ang laban nila sa virus ay may panibagong laban na na naman silang haharapin.” she added.
No cure yet
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) reiterated that there remains no drug or vaccine for COVID-19.
“There are no drugs or vaccines with an approved indication for the treatment of COVID-19,” said FDA DirectorGeneral Rolando Enrique Domingo.
He explained that a new drug should undergo extensive clinical trials.
“The drug must be initially tested in the laboratory to determine its safety profile before conducting studies in healthy humans, and eventually in humans with specific health conditions. This comprehensive research is implemented to ensure patient safety and drug efficacy,” he said.
Health workers
A group of health workers expressed concern over the growing number of coronavirus disease cases among their ranks. "
extremely concerned about the rapid increase in the number of positive cases and deaths among health workers in hospitals and health facilities," said the Alliance of Health Workers (AHW).
Vergeire recently said 766 healthcare workers have tested positive for COVID-19. Of the figure, 339 are doctors while 242 are nurses. She added that 22 health workers have died from the disease.
The AHW said the increasing number of cases of COVID-19 among healthcare workers is due to lack of personal protective equipment (PPE).
"Mostly, those health workers who died and were infected was due to lack of personal protective equipment aggravated by 12 hours duty a day for 7 to 8 days in half of the month," the group said.
The group urged the government to increase the budget for healthcare services in the country. This is to allow the DOH to "immediately distribute PPE to ensure and protect health workers, and hire and train more permanent health workers."
The AHW also urged the government to conduct mass testing for all health workers.
Department of Health (MANILA BULLETIN)
Based on the latest case bulletin, the total number of recoveries in the country is now at 572.
The Health department also reported that 12 more patients died due to COVID-19, raising the death toll in the Philippines to 409.
The Department of Foreign Affairs confirmed yesterday the death of Philippine Honorary Consul to Sweden Erik Belfrage due to COVID-19.
Meanwhile, there are 172 more patients afflicted with COVID-19, bringing the total cases in the country to 6,259.
Don’t discriminate
Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Veregeire appealed to the public to avoid discriminating against people who have recovered from the dreaded disease.
“Nakatanggap po ang Kagawaran ng mga reports na ang ilan sa ating mga COVID-19 patients at ang mga dating pasyente na gumaling na ay nakakaranas ng iba’t-ibang uri ng diskriminasyon sa kanilang mga komunidad,” said Vergeire.
“Napagtagumpayan na po ng ating mga survivors ang COVID-19. Huwag naman po sana nating iparamdam sa kanila na matapos ang laban nila sa virus ay may panibagong laban na na naman silang haharapin.” she added.
No cure yet
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) reiterated that there remains no drug or vaccine for COVID-19.
“There are no drugs or vaccines with an approved indication for the treatment of COVID-19,” said FDA DirectorGeneral Rolando Enrique Domingo.
He explained that a new drug should undergo extensive clinical trials.
“The drug must be initially tested in the laboratory to determine its safety profile before conducting studies in healthy humans, and eventually in humans with specific health conditions. This comprehensive research is implemented to ensure patient safety and drug efficacy,” he said.
Health workers
A group of health workers expressed concern over the growing number of coronavirus disease cases among their ranks. "
extremely concerned about the rapid increase in the number of positive cases and deaths among health workers in hospitals and health facilities," said the Alliance of Health Workers (AHW).
Vergeire recently said 766 healthcare workers have tested positive for COVID-19. Of the figure, 339 are doctors while 242 are nurses. She added that 22 health workers have died from the disease.
The AHW said the increasing number of cases of COVID-19 among healthcare workers is due to lack of personal protective equipment (PPE).
"Mostly, those health workers who died and were infected was due to lack of personal protective equipment aggravated by 12 hours duty a day for 7 to 8 days in half of the month," the group said.
The group urged the government to increase the budget for healthcare services in the country. This is to allow the DOH to "immediately distribute PPE to ensure and protect health workers, and hire and train more permanent health workers."
The AHW also urged the government to conduct mass testing for all health workers.