The first novel coronavirus-related death outside China was recorded in the Philippines, the World Health Organization’s representative in the country said Sunday.
Tagged as the Philippines’ second confirmed 2019-nCoV case, a 44-year-old Chinese man, who arrived from Wuhan, China via Hong Kong last Jan. 21, 2020, died on Saturday, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said.
“This is the first reported death outside China,” Dr. Rabindra Abeyasinghe, WHO Representative in the Philippines, said in a news conference with Duque.
The man was a companion of the 38-year-old Chinese woman who was identified earlier as the Philippines’ first confirmed new coronavirus case. She was asymptomatic as of Jan. 30 when authorities announced her case.
Duque said the two were admitted for isolation and supportive treatment at a government hospital in Manila.
After being admitted for pneumonia last Jan. 25, the man experienced fever, cough and sore throat, Duque said.
“Over the course of the patient’s admission, he developed severe pneumonia. In his last few days, the patient was stable and showed signs of improvement. However, the condition of the patient deteriorated within the last 24 hours, resulting in his demise,” he added.
Abeyasinghe said, “we need to take into mind, this is not a locally acquired case.”
“This patient came from the epicenter of this outbreak, Wuhan, China, where there have been very large number of deaths,” he added. As of Sunday, China said the death toll from the new respiratory contagion has swelled to 304 amid the infection of several thousand others.
Authorities are in touch with the Chinese embassy for the cremation of the patient’s remains, Duque said.
“All I ask from the public is heed advisories from officials…refrain from sharing unverified and unvalidated information,” he said.
As of Saturday, 30 other individuals considered as patients under investigation tested negative for the 2019-nCoV, while authorities are awaiting the results of samples from 4 others, according to Health Undersecretary Eric Domingo.
Of this figure, 10 patients have been discharged, he added.
The Philippines on Sunday temporarily prohibited the entry of all foreigners from China, while Filipino citizens and holders of permanent resident visa issued by the government coming from China will undergo a 14-day quarantine upon their arrival in the country.
This news is taken from ABS-CBN News.
Photo: CNN Philippines