“The patient is now recovering.”
This was the statement of Dr. Mario Baquilod, regional director of Department of Health-Center for Health Development (DOH-CHD) MIMAROPA during the “Kapihan sa PIA” conducted earlier today pertaining to the status of the lone person under investigation (PUI) in Palawan.
The ten-year-old tourist who was admitted and put under isolation at Ospital ng Palawan (ONP) last Jan. 25 was initially declared cleared from other corona viruses – the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Corona Virus (MERCov) and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) according to Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM). And even during the patient’s first day inside the isolation room, the DOH had told the PDN News Team that she was actually getting well.
But despite the positive result, the health department clarifies that the kid will only be allowed for discharge after the “specific test for 2019-nCoV” to be conducted by the RITM, as she is considered as person under observation with regard to the emergence of a new strain of Corona virus. This will be made possible thru the primer and reagents from Japan.
“Before yesterday, ang kaya lang ng RITM is to do the testing except for the new Corona virus; it has the capability to detect ‘yung SARS virus, MERSCov, and other bacterial pathogens as well. It was only yesterday, na na-receive ‘yung mga primers at saka ‘yung reagents galing Japan. So, ang ginagawa ngayon, sini-set-up itong laboratory sa RITM and hopefully, early this Friday, we could start the analysis for the 2019 nCorona virus,” Dr. Baquilod explained during the ‘Kapihan.’
Although being pronounced earlier by the ONP official that the results of the specific tests for the two specimens taken from the patient are expected to be released on Friday, DOH clarifies that it will possibly be on Saturday.
“As far as the protocol is concerned, ang kinukuha natin [mula sa bata] ay Oro Pharyngeal at saka Nasal Pharyngeal swab. Ito ay kinukuha…upon admission and then 24 hours after, kinukuhaan uli ng specimen. Sina-submit natin sa RITM para sa laboratory analysis,” he said.
Because of the development, the health authorities will not send the specimens to Australia for laboratory confirmatory test as the RITM has already set their laboratory up to do the specific test for 2019 novel Corona virus.
“Ang pagpapadala ho [ng specimen sa Australia], it would take three to four days…and then 24-48 hours sa test. So, mas matagal kaysa sa atin ngayon,” Baquilod said, explaining on why they opted to wait for the help of Japan than to send the specimen for laboratory test in Australia.
Meanwhile, DOH-CHD MIMAROPA assures the Palaweños that they are “doing their very best to respond with the situation” and that the city and the province are still safe from the contagious disease of Wuhan.
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