Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 11) — The Quezon City government on Wednesday reported that a doctor has tested positive for COVID-19 — the first reported case of infection of a medical personnel in the country and the fourth case of the viral disease in the city.
Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte told CNN Philippines in a text message that he is a 27-year-old doctor who, based on reports, was treating a COVID-19 patient. Belmonte would not disclose the name of the hospital where he worked at.
The Health Department said in a press briefing that there are still no reports of hospital-acquired infections of the virus that causes COVID-19.
It is not clear if this patient is among the 49 confirmed COVID-19 cases in the country. Earlier, the Department of Health said San Juan City has seven coronavirus cases – the most recorded by a locality.
Thirty of the patients are admitted in hospitals mostly in Metro Manila. The other three are the Chinese visitors who earlier tested positive for the virus in the Philippines – one of them died, while the remaining two have since recovered and left the country.
Worldwide, COVID-19 has killed more than 4,200 people, mostly in China, since the outbreak began in Wuhan City in Hubei province in December last year. It has infected over 118,000 people globally.
According to the World Health Organization, the most commonly reported symptoms are fever, dry cough and shortness of breath. WHO said 8 in 10, or around 80 percent, of infected patients experience "mild illness" and eventually recover from COVID-19. Some 14 percent experience severe illness while 5 percent were critically ill, the WHO said.
To prevent infection, authorities are urging people to practice regular hand washing, cover the mouth and nose when coughing and sneezing, and avoid close contact with those who show respiratory symptoms.
Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte told CNN Philippines in a text message that he is a 27-year-old doctor who, based on reports, was treating a COVID-19 patient. Belmonte would not disclose the name of the hospital where he worked at.
The Health Department said in a press briefing that there are still no reports of hospital-acquired infections of the virus that causes COVID-19.
It is not clear if this patient is among the 49 confirmed COVID-19 cases in the country. Earlier, the Department of Health said San Juan City has seven coronavirus cases – the most recorded by a locality.
Thirty of the patients are admitted in hospitals mostly in Metro Manila. The other three are the Chinese visitors who earlier tested positive for the virus in the Philippines – one of them died, while the remaining two have since recovered and left the country.
Worldwide, COVID-19 has killed more than 4,200 people, mostly in China, since the outbreak began in Wuhan City in Hubei province in December last year. It has infected over 118,000 people globally.
According to the World Health Organization, the most commonly reported symptoms are fever, dry cough and shortness of breath. WHO said 8 in 10, or around 80 percent, of infected patients experience "mild illness" and eventually recover from COVID-19. Some 14 percent experience severe illness while 5 percent were critically ill, the WHO said.
To prevent infection, authorities are urging people to practice regular hand washing, cover the mouth and nose when coughing and sneezing, and avoid close contact with those who show respiratory symptoms.
