DOH: 15 new COVID-19 cases, total in PH now 217; 8 have recovered
Published Mar 19, 2020 12:00 am
By Analou De Vera
The Department of Health announced 15 new confirmed cases of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) on Thursday afternoon, bringing the total number of recorded cases to 217.
Department of Health (MANILA BULLETIN)
The DOH also reported that another COVID patient--a 48-year-old Filipino from Cavite--has recovered. This brings the total number of persons who have recovered to eight.
The patient, who is the country's 20th confirmed case, was admitted last March 7 at the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine after manifesting symptoms of respiratory illness.
The DOH said that he was already discharged "after testing negative for COVID-19 twice."
Meanwhile, the DOH noted that the number of deaths of COVID-19 patients in the country remains at 17.
Approved imported test kits
In a related development, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) released a list of approved COVID-19 test kits from South Korea and China for commercial use.
FDA Director-General Rolando Enrique Domingo noted that these test kits are "PCR (polymerase chain reaction)-based reagent kits used in laboratories and not point-of-care or do-it-yourself kits."
The two test kits from South Korea are "AllplexTM 2019-nCoV Assay" manufactured by Seegene Inc., and "SOLGENT DiaplexQ Novel Coronavirus (2019 nCoV) Detection Kit" manufactured by Solgent Co.
Meanwhile, the two test kits from China are "Nucleic acid detection kit for 2019 ncov" manufactured by Shanghai Connex Biotech Co., and "Novel coronavirus 2019 ncov nucleic acid detection kit (fluorescence PCR method)" manufactured by Beijing Applied Biological Technologies Co.
“These test kits are now available for sale and use in the Philippines. Hospitals and laboratories that are allowed by the DOH can use them to test for COVID-19,” Domingo said.
The FDA official also urged the public not to patronize unregistered diagnostic test kits being sold in the market. Domingo previously said some individuals are selling unregistered test kits for the detection of COVID-19 in some parts of Metro Manila, provinces, as well as online.
"We ask the public and stakeholders to be analytical of COVID-19 test kits that they may encounter as we have identified some applications which appear to be suspicious and unauthorized," he said.
"During this period of emergency, safety is still of utmost priority. We need to be vigilant of the entry of counterfeit products and be watchful of those who try to take advantage of the current situation."
The DOH also said it has received 500 test kits from South Korea and 2,000 from China.
Department of Health (MANILA BULLETIN)
The DOH also reported that another COVID patient--a 48-year-old Filipino from Cavite--has recovered. This brings the total number of persons who have recovered to eight.
The patient, who is the country's 20th confirmed case, was admitted last March 7 at the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine after manifesting symptoms of respiratory illness.
The DOH said that he was already discharged "after testing negative for COVID-19 twice."
Meanwhile, the DOH noted that the number of deaths of COVID-19 patients in the country remains at 17.
Approved imported test kits
In a related development, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) released a list of approved COVID-19 test kits from South Korea and China for commercial use.
FDA Director-General Rolando Enrique Domingo noted that these test kits are "PCR (polymerase chain reaction)-based reagent kits used in laboratories and not point-of-care or do-it-yourself kits."
The two test kits from South Korea are "AllplexTM 2019-nCoV Assay" manufactured by Seegene Inc., and "SOLGENT DiaplexQ Novel Coronavirus (2019 nCoV) Detection Kit" manufactured by Solgent Co.
Meanwhile, the two test kits from China are "Nucleic acid detection kit for 2019 ncov" manufactured by Shanghai Connex Biotech Co., and "Novel coronavirus 2019 ncov nucleic acid detection kit (fluorescence PCR method)" manufactured by Beijing Applied Biological Technologies Co.
“These test kits are now available for sale and use in the Philippines. Hospitals and laboratories that are allowed by the DOH can use them to test for COVID-19,” Domingo said.
The FDA official also urged the public not to patronize unregistered diagnostic test kits being sold in the market. Domingo previously said some individuals are selling unregistered test kits for the detection of COVID-19 in some parts of Metro Manila, provinces, as well as online.
"We ask the public and stakeholders to be analytical of COVID-19 test kits that they may encounter as we have identified some applications which appear to be suspicious and unauthorized," he said.
"During this period of emergency, safety is still of utmost priority. We need to be vigilant of the entry of counterfeit products and be watchful of those who try to take advantage of the current situation."
The DOH also said it has received 500 test kits from South Korea and 2,000 from China.