Dr. Jaime Bernadas, director of the Department of Health in Central Visayas, debunks reports circulating online, alleging that a doctor of a Cebu City-based hospital died due to the COVID-19. Bernadas said their office has contacted all hospitals in the city, and none reported of deaths related to the disease. CDN Digital photo | Morexette Marie B. Erram
CEBU CITY, Philippines—The Department of Health in Central Visayas (DOH-7) debunked reports circulating online that a doctor admitted in a hospital in Cebu City died due to the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19).
Dr. Jaime Bernadas, DOH – 7 director, said they are aware of the information and contacted all hospitals in the city to verify such claim.
Bernadas said none of the health facilities reported any COVID-19-related deaths as of Monday, March 23, 2020.
“We contacted the hospitals to verify this information. None of them reported deaths due to COVID-19 in their respective jurisdictions,” Bernadas said.
He added that protocols have been placed to ensure that information pertaining to the COVID-19 pandemic are ‘synchronized and well-coordinated’.
The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in the Philippines has jumped to 462 as of Monday, with 18 patients recovering from the disease.
The death toll stands at 33.
Source: DOH
As of this posting, Bernadas says they have not received any official updates from DOH’s central office whether or not there are additional confirmed COVID-19 patients in Central Visayas. /bmjo