MANILA – Two of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients in the country have recovered, Health Secretary Francisco Duque announced Sunday.
Duque said in a radio interview that it took a while for the patients to be cleared as the recovery period of the disease is normally around two to three weeks.
“Matagal talaga ang recovery period. Sa mild to moderate cases of COVID-19 infection, (recovery) is anywhere from two to three weeks. ‘Yung critical aabutin lampas ng isang buwan, or three to six weeks. So hindi madali,” Duque said in an interview with DZMM.
Based on the latest data from the Department of Health, there are 140 positive cases of COVID-19 infection in the country with 12 deaths as of Sunday.
Of the 140 confirmed, six have already been discharged and will undergo home quarantine instead, said Health Assistant Secretary Maria Rosario Vergeire.
“Sila po ay positibo ngunit sila po ay walang sintomas o ‘di kaya ‘yung iba ay mild symptoms. Base po sa bagong desisyon namin ngayon para hindi mas mahawa ang mga tao… sa bahay na lang po muna sila at mag-i-isolate sila do’n,” said in a radio interview.
Vergeire clarified that this does not mean that the patients have recovered, but merely that their symptoms are mild enough to permit a home quarantine.
Among those who recovered were the two Chinese tourists tagged as Case Nos. 1 and 3. Both have returned to China. The Department of Health is still awaiting test results of 72 other individuals, while 638 have tested negative for the virus.
Duque explained that the number of persons suspected of carrying the virus is expected to climb daily due to government’s tracing of those who interacted with patients infected with COVID-19.
“Pagka gumawa tayo ng marami pang testing, baka may positive na marami dyan, so liliit ‘yung case mortality rate…‘yan ‘yung number of deaths over number of infection,” Duque said./PN
