The number of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases in the Philippines soared to 202 on Wednesday after the Department of Health (DOH) confirmed 15 new patients  afflicted with the disease.

The number of deaths due to the disease rose to 17 after three new deaths were reported, according to the DOH report.

The DOH said the latest fatalities were identified as Patients 201, 57, and 160. All three deaths had pre-existing medical conditions on top of COVID-19.

Patient 201 was a 58-year-old male Filipino from Lanao del Sur with a history of travel to Malaysia. He was admitted at the Amai Pakpak Medical Center on March 10.  He died on Tuesday while awaiting for the results of his COVID-19 test, which only came back positive on Wednesday.

The patient died of acute respiratory distress syndrome secondary to COVID-19. He also had pre-existing diabetes mellitus.

Patient 57 was a 65-year-old male Filipino residing in Pasig City with a history of travel to London. He was admitted to The Medical City on March 10 and died on Tuesday of acute respiratory distress syndrome secondary to COVID-19 and pneumonia. The patient also had pre-existing hypertension and diabetes mellitus.

Patient 160 was an 86-year-old Filipino woman from San Juan City with no travel history or exposure to a known COVID-19 case. She died of septic shock secondary to high-risk pneumonia and COVID-19 on Tuesday at the Cardinal Santos Medical Center. The woman also had chronic kidney disease secondary to hypertensive nephrosclerosis, ischemic heart disease, and peripheral arterial occlusive disease.

The DOH earlier confirmed that the number of recovery increased to seven.

The latest recoveries were identified as Patients 15, 26, and 13.

Patient 15 is a 24-year-old male Filipino form Makati City with a history of travel to the United Arab Emirates. He was discharged on Sunday after testing negative for COVID-19 twice, as confirmed by the Makati Medical Center.

Patient 26 is a 34-year-old male Filipino from Camarines Sur who was one of the two repatriates from the COVID-19-hit Diamond Princess cruise ship in Japan. His co-repatriate, Patient 25, earlier recovered from COVID-19.  He has already tested negative for the disease twice, according to the Jose B. Lingad Memorial Regional Hospital.

Patient 13 is 34-year-old Filipino male from Quezon City with a history of travel to Australia. He has tested negative for COVID-19 once, as confirmed by the Makati Medical Center, and is still awaiting the results of his second test. He was discharged on Sunday.

President Rodrigo Duterte placed the entire Luzon under an “enhanced community quarantine”  until April 13, 2020  as the government moves to contain the spread of COVID-19./Stacy Ang