Philippines confirms its third case of coronavirus

The Philippines on Wednesday reported a third case of a new virus which has infected thousands in China.

Health Under Secretary Rolando Domingo said a 60-year-old Chinese patient arrived in Cebu city from Wuhan, China via Hong Kong last January 20. The patient consulted a private hospital in a nearby province of Bohol two days after experiencing fever and coryza.

A sample taken from the patient last January 24 was tested at the Victorian Infectious Diseases Reference Laboratory in Australia and the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM).

Results from the tests came back negative last January 29 and 30, and upon recovery of the patient, she was discharged and was allowed to return to China via Cebu last January 31.

However, on February 3, the Philippines Department of Health was notified by RITM that a sample taken earlier, January 23, tested positive for the 2019-nCoV, making her the third confirmed 2019-nCoV ARD in the Philippines.