Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 11) — Sixteen more people have tested positive for COVID-19 in the Philippines, bringing the total number of those who have been infected with the new virus to 49.
Ten of the new patients have no history of travel or exposure to someone with COVID-19, while two were exposed to someone with the viral disease.
Two have had a history of travel outside of the country, while a 64-year-old Filipino man went to Greenhills Shopping Center, the same mall that houses a prayer hall frequented by another person with COVID-19.
Most of the new patients are admitted in various hospitals in Metro Manila, but Ace Dumaguete Doctors and Northern Mindanao Medical Center have each one patient with COVID-19.
Of the new patients, three are admitted at Makati Medical Center, while another three are admitted at St. Luke's Medical Center in Quezon City.
Two are admitted at Manila Doctors Hospital, while Las Piñas General Hospital, the Philippine Heart Center in Quezon City, Cardinal Santos Medical Center in San Juan City, The Medical City in Pasig, the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine in Muntinlupa City and Asian Hospital and Medical Center, also in Muntinlupa.
Their current conditions are still for verification, according to the Health Department.
A 27-year-old male doctor who reports said had been treating a patient with COVID-19 had also tested positive for the viral disease in Quezon City, Mayor Joy Belmonte confirmed to CNN Philippines.
A 27-year-old male patient with COVID-19 is among the new patients with the viral disease announced by the Health Department. He is said to have had contact with a COVID-19 patient.
This is the first reported case of a medical personnel getting COVID-19 in the country. The Health Department, however, said there are still no reports of hospital-acquired cases of the virus.
An 82-year-old Filipino woman who had been in contact with an 86-year-old American man with COVID-19 is currently intubated and has existing cardiovascular and endocrine conditions, according to the Health Department.
The Philippines is currently under a state of public health emergency for the government to be able to tap into more funds and for it to be able to impose mandatory quarantines.
COVID-19 is a disease caused by SARS CoV-2, also known as novel coronavirus.