By ELLSON QUISMORIO
A House of Representatives employee died yesterday from the novel coronavirus 2019 and is reportedly the youngest Filipino to die from the dreaded disease.
“Sad news. The HRep employee who was positive with COVID-19 passed away earlier today (Sunday) at 1:45 a.m.,” Puwersa ng Bayaning Atleta party-list Rep. Jericho Nograles said via Viber.
“I hope the Secretary-General will conduct contact tracing in the HRep ASAP,” he said.
House Secretary-General Luis Montales had earlier disclosed that the victim – a staff from the Printing Office – tested positive for COVID-19. The victim last reported for work on March 3.
A source said the victim was a male and 41-years-old. His sister-in-law and mother are reportedly assigned with the House Committee Affairs Department and they have been tested and are awaiting results.
The patient had no travel history in countries with COVID-19 cases nor had any contact with a confirmed case. He reportedly had various health issues and been in and out of the hospital since last year, including a lengthy hospitalization last November.
The entire Printing Office staff had since been told to undergo quarantine.
Nograles has asked his House colleagues to be mindful of symptoms in connection with COVID-19.
COP DIES AHEAD OF TEST RESULT
Meanwhile, a police sergeant assigned to the Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group died three days before the result of his test for COVID-19.
Information from the National Capital Region Police Office said the victim with a rank of staff sergeant died in a hospital in Manila last March 14.
“His COVID-19 test result will be out on March 17, 2020,” the NCRPO said.
NCRPO director Police Major Gen. Debold Sinas said the victim had a pre-diagnosed illness of diabetes.
“He began to experience severe coughing three months ago but did not seek medical attention. Last March 4, he complained of inflamed tonsil to his daughter,” Sinas said.
The following day, the victim and his wife went to a hospital in Pasay City for medical attention. After the check-up, they went to Cavite.
On March 7, the victim was taken to a hospital in Cavite and was diagnosed with fever and viral infection. But he was not admitted. On March 8, Sinas said the victim went back to Manila from Cavite with his family.
“Last March 9 in the evening, he was brought to a hospital in Manila and was admitted. Diagnosis was tonsil infection and possibly pneumonia. He has been confined in the same hospital since then,” said Sinas.
Sinas said the police sergeant died due to respiratory failure at around 8 p.m. last March 14. Sinas said the victim will be cremated on March 20. (Aaron Recuenco)
