Two females classified as patients under investigation (PUIs) for the coronavirus disease 2019, or Covid-19, died yesterday afternoon at the Negros Oriental Provincial Hospital (NOPH).

Assistant Provincial Health Officer Dr. Liland Estacion confirmed that the patients died while in isolation at the NOPH after they were transferred from the Bindoy District Hospital for other “pre-existing conditions” such as hypertension.

Estacion said the female PUIs were aged 59 and 40. No other details were made available at press time.

The cause of their deaths was not immediately known as Estacion said she is still awaiting a full report from the NOPH.

She said that the two were brought to the NOPH a few days ago for other health issues but since they developed flu-like symptoms, such as cough, they were placed under isolation.

Throat swabs were taken for testing but the patients died even before the results were sent, Estacion said.

The number of PUIs in Negros Oriental who had died is now pegged at three.

On Tuesday, a woman also died at a private hospital in Dumaguete City, days after she was admitted for flu-like symptoms.

She was the sister-in-law of the first and so far, the only confirmed Covid-19 case in the province, known as PH 39, who died last March 15.

Her husband, the older brother of PH 39, is also admitted at the hospital and was scheduled for medical evacuation to Metro Manila, pending the approval and clearance of the Department of Health. (PNA)