Department of Health (DOH) Secretary Francisco Duque confirmed Thursday the first confirmed case of novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) in the Philippines.
The patient was identified as a 38-year-old Chinese tested positive for the novel coronavirus based on the laboratory results from the Victorian Infectious Disease Reference Laboratory in Melbourne, Australia
The patient arrived in the Philippines from Wuhan, China via Hong Kong last January 21, 2020.
RELATED STORY: BREAKING: First case of 2019-nCoV traveled from Wuhan to PH via HK
As of January 30, 2020, DOH has recorded 29 Patients Under Investigation (PUIs) across the country.
They were classified as PUIs after manifesting symptoms of respiratory infection and travel history from Wuhan, the epicenter of the outbreak.
The following areas have reported PUIs:
Metro Manila: 18
Central Visayas: 4
Western Visayas: 3
MIMAROPA: 1
Eastern Visayas: 1
Northern Mindanao: 1
Davao: 1
Meanwhile, DOH also reported one fatality from PUIs but it’s not yet confirmed if he died from the deadly virus.
The 29-year-old Chinese patient under investigation died while he was admitted to San Lazaro Hospital.
