DOH: Remnants of dead virus may cause relapse in recovered COVID-19 patients

Two recovered COVID-19 patients in Davao City have tested positive anew after their 14-day home quarantine.

Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire stated that the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) machines may have detected remnants of a dead virus, not viable for infection.

Dr. Marie Yvette Barez from SPMC suggested it could be due to non-viable virus remnants persisting in patients and does not indicate reinfection or reactivation.

Both patients are asymptomatic and under observation at the hospital.