By Niño Luces
LEGAZPI CITY, Albay – The Department of Health (DOH) regional office here confirmed on Thursday afternoon that all the patients under investigation (PUIs) reported tested negative for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
DOH Bicol regional director Ernie Vera said that as of February 13, Bicol region remains free from the deadly disease as three of the PUIs were already discharged from the hospital.
“The three PUIs are from Albay and were admitted at Bicol Regional Training and Teaching Hospital (BRTTH).
Based on the results from RITM, the three tested negative for COVID-19 and the three were already discharged. Camarines Norte has also one PUI admitted in Bicol Medical Center (BMC), also negative and has been discharged. The other one PUI is in Masbate, and also tested negative of the COVID-19,” Vera said.
Earlier, DOH has reported that two patients were admitted at BRTTH after exhibiting symptoms and has history of travel to China but was cleared immediately as PUIs per protocol.
He continued that there are 12 persons under monitoring (PUMs) in the whole region after having a history of travel to COVID-19 affected areas.
“Surveillance is being strengthened hence reports are being submitted, though, not complete at the moment. As we speak, there are 12 persons under monitoring in the whole region that are being closely monitored by the LGUs. Six reported in Camarines Sur, five in Sorsogon province, and one in Masbate, all other provinces have none. PUMs are persons with no symptoms but with history of travel to countries with confirmed COVID-19 who are quarantined in an LGU quarantine facility or advised home quarantine. Our hospitals (isolation) and LGUs (facility and home quarantine) are managing these people according to the guidelines provided by the DOH. Utmost self-protection and infection control measures are in place to protect our health workers and community from the disease,” Vera explained.
These PUMs will undergo 14-day facility or home quarantine and will be tightly monitored by health authorities from LGUS.
Vera said that once a PUM developed symptoms, he or she would be classified as PUI and will be referred to hospitals.