Philippines: COVID-19 cases top 800, 54 deaths; Telemedicine guidelines being finalized

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews

The Philippines Department of Health (DOH) reported an additional 96 coronavirus disease 2019, or COVID-19 cases today, bringing the country total to 803.

In addition, none deaths were reported today. The death toll in the Philippines is now 54.

Quezon City, San Juan City and Makati City still round out the municipalities with the highest percentage of cases.

Due to the surge of patients at hospitals, the DOH reports finalizing guidelines for teleconsultation to alleviate the surge and unnecessary traffic at hospitals.

Many consults can managed at the primary care level.

The DOH is partnering with KonsultaMD and Medifi who have expressed providing their telemedicine services for free.

Lastly, earlier this week the DOH urged Filipinos undergoing treatment for active tuberculosis (TB) disease to get their free medicines good for one month instead of going to the health facility for their daily dose of TB medicines.

The move is in light of the Enhanced Community Quarantine enforced in Luzon and other parts of the country because of the 2019 novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic.