A patient under investigation for coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) here who died five days ago turned out negative of the dreaded virus.

Mayor Maria Isabelle Climaco-Salazar, chairperson of the Task Force Covid-19, made the announcement Thursday following the release of the test results from the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITIM).

Salazar described the deceased PUI as a 57-year-old married female who was admitted on March 18 at a local hospital. She died three days later.

Dr. Dulce Amor Miravite, City Health Office chief, said she was one of the 28 PUIs they have recorded since January in this southern port city.

The Department of Health (DOH) said in a statement that the PUI is a known diabetic with history of travel to United Kingdom in January 2020 and a local travel. She also had an initial working diagnosis of Urinary Tract Infection (UTI), it added.

Meanwhile, Salazar has called on the public to “continue to pray for the eternal repose of her soul and may God comfort her family as they grieve for their loss”.

She likewise warned against public disclosure of sensitive data of any suspected Covid-19 patient, noting that this violates the Data Privacy Act and violators punishable by law.

Meanwhile, Salazar announced that the personal protective equipment (PPE) the local government has purchased have already arrived in this city.

The PPE will be used by the frontliners to ensure they are protected while rendering service amid the Covid-19 threat. (PNA)