The Department of Health (DOH) emphasized it is too early to say the country has flattened the curve or that the number of COVID-19 cases has dropped.
DOH Special Asst. to the Secretary Dr. Beverly Ho explained the incubation period for COVID-19 is 14 days and that those who have acquired the virus before March 15 may only feel the symptoms until March 29.
“After this date, doon pa sila nagpacheck, nagpakonsulta, nagpatest or naadmit kung kinakailangan. (After this date, this is when they get checked, consult, tested, and admitted when needed),” Ho said.
Based on the latest data of DOH, there are now 3,870 positive COVID-19 cases in the country, after the department reported 106 new cases on Wednesday.
The DOH said 12 patients have recovered from the disease, bringing the total number of recoveries to 96. It also reported that the death toll is now at 182.
Experts who help in evaluating data expounded it would only be determined by mid-April if the enhanced community quarantine had an effect. They added that the extension would give more time to slow down the transmission of the virus and to strengthen country’s healthcare system.
Meanwhile, following the reports on false positive Dengue tests of two patients who later tested positive for COVID-19 in Singapore, Ho reminded doctors to maintain a “high index of suspicion (for) COVID” since the manifestation of COVID-19 and Dengue are similar.
The DOH emphasized they continuously monitor the situation of healthcare workers, and that administrators of hospitals have flexibility to implement duty schedule suitable to their situation.
Data from the health department show that 252 health workers have tested positive for COVID-19, 152 of them are doctors, 63 are nurses, and 12 are confirmed dead. – Report from Mark Fetalco
