THE Department of Health on Tuesday said it will look into the case of an infant in Cebu, who was reportedly found positive for the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) just hours after being born.
“If the infant is indeed positive for COVID-19, we will take note of this case and have it studied. As we said, there is a need for extensive assessment and evidence gathering before we can say that vertical transmission is happening,” Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said in a briefing.
Vergeire said among factors that will be looked into are the medical history of the mother, circumstances during the child’s birth, and if the infant has congenital illnesses.
Vergeire has said there was insufficient evidence for vertical transmission of COVID-19.
Reports said the infant was born on May 12 in Toledo City. A few hours after birth, the baby suffered difficulty in breathing and was subsequently tested for COVID-19.
The number of COVID-19 cases in the country is nearing the 13,000 mark and at least 4.6 million worldwide.
The Department of Health reported 224 new infections cases, bringing the total to 12,942 COVID-19 cases as of Tuesday. There were six fatalities, or a total of 837, and 114 more patients who have recovered from the disease, or a total of 2,843 recoveries.
The disease that originated in China has spread to 216 countries and territories. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), as of May 18, there have been 4,628,903 confirmed cases of COVID-19, globally, including 312,009 deaths.
FILIPINOS OVERSEAS
The Department of Foreign Affairs said the number of overseas Filipinos infected with COVID-19 has reached 2,431 with the addition of 26 confirmed cases of Tuesday.
The DFA reported one new fatality, bringing the total to 280 deaths.
Of the 2,431 infected, 1,302 are still undergoing treatment while 849 have recovered. The DFA said the 21 new recoveries were from Asia-Pacific
and the Middle East.
Ambassador to Canada Peronila Garcia said 930,000 Filipinos residing there either permanently or temporarily have been benefited by the host government’s quick reaction to the threat of the coronavirus.
Interviewed over public briefing “Laging Handa,” Garcia said there have been 247 cases of COVID 19 among the Filipino population including 225 in Calgary where 89 have already recovered, and 22 in Toronto with six recoveries and one fatality.
“Since the middle of March, a state of emergency has been declared over Canada, so they required physical distancing, restricted people’s movements and told them to stay indoors except when doing essential trips. As of today, they have had of course, a lot of mass testing,” the embassy official said.
Canada has reported 77,000 COVID-19 confirmed cases at with 5,800 deaths. However recovery rates remain upwards of 50 percent with more than 1.3 million already tested.
“As of yesterday, the state of emergency has been lifted over Ontario and we expect that the government will start the first stage of restarting the economy in Ottawa. That means more businesses will resume operations while offices would also open their doors for people seeking services. Of course, practicing physical distancing is mandatory,” she said.
In some areas of Canada, Garcia said determining the exact number of Filipinos infected by the virus because of federal and provincial governments insist on privacy laws.
“The only way that the embassy and our Consulate General will find out if a Filipino have been found positive is when that person or his family member will come to the embassy or consulate,” she explained.
She said Filipinos in Canada, particularly the 880,000 who have become permanent residents there, are assured of treatment and regular monitoring by government health authorities.
“They do not differentiate whether you are a tourist, a worker, a permanent resident or citizen. They all have access to the medical facilities,” she added.
OWWA’S APPEAL
The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) appealed for more patience from those undergoing the 14-day mandatory quarantine period.
OWWA Administrator Hans Leo Cacdac said they are hoping that overseas Filipino workers who have returned to the Philippines will not attempt to cut short their stay in quarantine facilities.
“We want to reunite families. But we have to have an orderly process. We need to fall in line so that your return home will be smooth and efficient,” said Cacdac.
His statement comes after eight OFWs escaped from a quarantine facility in Metro Manila, despite having pending results of their COVID-19 tests.
On Monday, the Philippine Coast Guard reported that one who tested positive for COVID-19 has been found and brought back to the facility.
The other seven, the PCG said, have yet to be accounted for but were already found negative of the virus.
All returning OFWs are required to undergo a 14-day quarantine in a government-designated facility, and get tested for COVID-19 before being allowed to return home.
According to Cacdac, there are about 8,500 repatriated OFWs quarantined in OWWA-run facilities, such as resorts and hotels.
Of the 8,500, the OWWA chief said that about 7,500 are already cleared to return home.
“We are hoping that within the entire week, we are setting our sights of sending home everybody in the OWWA hotels and have been tested for COVID-19,” said Cacdac.
OWWA has said the return of some OFWs to their provinces, particularly in the Visayas and Mindanao, has been delayed by transportation problems because of lack of flights.
Presidential spokesman Harry Roque said Malacañang will ask OWWA to provide an inventory of repatriated OFWs who are staying at government-accredited facilities while waiting for the results of their COVID-19 tests.
The OWWA had earlier explained that the test results are released in batches and the OFWs cannot leave until they have received their results and tested negative for the coronavirus.
