What happens after a novel coronavirus patient gets discharged?

Pauline Macaraeg

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What happens after a novel coronavirus patient gets discharged?
Recovery from the disease is evidence that 'the virus can be eliminated,' says Health Undersecretary Eric Domingo

MANILA, Philippines – As of February 11, the Department of Health (DOH) has confirmed 3 cases of COVID-19 (caused by the 2019 novel coronavirus) in the Philippines. Out of the 3, one died and two have been discharged.

On February 10, the DOH announced that the first 2019-nCoV patient in the Philippines, a 38-year-old woman who had traveled from Wuhan, China, has recovered and has been discharged from the hospital. This was the first full recovery from the disease recorded in the Philippines. (READ: First novel coronavirus patient in the Philippines recovers)

When do patients get discharged?

According to the DOH’s Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM), a patient with a confirmed case of COVID-19 would only be discharged if all the following criteria are met:

  1. Two consecutive negative tests for novel coronavirus done at least 48 hours apart.
  2. Clinical improvement
    • Not feverish and asymptomatic (including cough and respiratory symptoms) for 48 hours
    • Laboratory tests that were previously abnormal are improving or returning to normal, and improving chest X-ray findings

In its technical guidelines on patient management, the World Health Organization (WHO) also said specimens from both upper and lower respiratory tracts of a clinically recovered patient should be collected to demonstrate he or she is free from the virus. 

“The frequency of specimen collection will depend on local circumstances but should be at least every 2 to 4 days until there are two consecutive negative results in a clinically recovered patient at least 24 hours apart,” WHO said.

Meanwhile, a person under investigation – or one who has symptoms and has a history of travel to China in the past 14 days – may be discharged if (1) an initial nCoV test is negative, and (2) if any of the following conditions are met, according to RITM:

  • There is clinical improvement
  • There is no indication for admission
  • An alternative diagnosis is available
  • The possibility of novel coronavirus has been clinically ruled out

What happens after COVID-19 patients test negative twice?

Health Undersecretary Eric Domingo had earlier said that the 38-year-old woman’s recovery is evidence that “the virus can be eliminated as immune system mounts response against it.”

Once a COVID-19 patient tests negative twice, she/he then follows these guidelines set by the RITM:

  • Continue management
  • Discontinue isolation and transmission-based precautions
  • Consider discharge from hospital

WHO also said: “As per our clinical management guidelines, all patients discharged home should be instructed to return to hospital if they develop any worsening of illness. National and hospital guidelines should be followed.”

The recovery of the first novel coronavirus patient in the Philippines means that there are currently no living patients with the virus in the country, since the third confirmed case has since returned to China and has subsequently tested negative for the novel coronavirus after a few days of confinement. 

DOH Secretary Francisco Duque III has also said that these recoveries in the country show that most cases from China are “mild.”

However, because the virus is new and is still undergoing a lot of studies, the DOH urges the public to continue practicing preventive measures and remain vigilant as it continues to claim lives in China. – Rappler.com

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Pauline Macaraeg

Pauline Macaraeg is digital forensics researcher for Rappler. She started as a fact checker and researcher in 2019, before becoming part of Rappler's Digital Forensics Team. She writes about the developing digital landscape, as well as the spread and impact of disinformation and harmful online content. When she's not working, you can find her listening to podcasts or K-pop bops.