DoH probes 11 cases of 2019-nCoV
Credit to Author: Tempo Desk| Date: Mon, 27 Jan 2020 08:27:03 +0000
The Department of Health (DoH) reported that there are 11 foreign nationals in the country who are under investigation after showing symptoms of the deadly 2019 Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV).
In a press briefing in Malacañang, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said the 11 patients under investigation (PUIs) were Chinese nationals, Americans, Germans, and Brazilians.
He said 3 of the PUIs were from Western Visayas, 3 in Central Visayas, 2 in Metro Manila, 1 in MIMAROPA, 1 in Eastern Visayas and 1 in Northern Mindanao.
According to Duque, there was no reason for the public to avoid going to the places where the PUIs were from, saying the patients were isolated and have already moved to other places.
“There shouldn’t be any cause of alarm just because we flashed the areas where the PUIs come from, doesn’t mean those areas are affected. There’s none,” he said Monday.
“PUIs are all isolated now. They’re not in those areas at the moment. There shouldn’t be any cause for alarm,” he added.
Duque also belied rumors circulating in social media that there were already two confirmed cases of the 2019-nCoV in Metro Mania, particularly in Binondo and in Alabang.
According to the Health Secretary, people should stop propagating false information or unconfirmed reports they see on social media, saying the spread of fake news is more dangerous. He insisted that there are still no confirmed case of the 2019-nCoV in the Philippines.
“Don’t be part of an ‘infodemic.’ ‘Wag po tayong mangamba. Maniwala po tayo sa ating Department of Health,” Duque appealed.
“’Wag maniniwala sa mga nababasa social media. Maging mapanuri po tayo. Hindi po lahat ng nababasa natin we absorb and we start propagating these false news. This could be more endangering. The viral spread of false news can cause more societal injury,” he added.
He likewise said that the rumors about the cases of the 2019-nCoV were not true since the DoH currently has no capability to determine or confirm if a patient is positive for the virus.
Duque explained that if a patient tests positive for the pan coronavirus their samples would be sent to the Victorian Infectious Disease Reference Laboratory (VIDRL) in Melbourne, Australia and the result can be expected in 24 hours.
According to Duque, there are a total of 56 deaths recorded out of the 2,014 confirmed cases of the virus in 12 countries.
Suspension of classes
Meanwhile, Duque said that there was no need for schools to suspend their classes after some Chinese schools in the country suspended their classes as a precautionary measure against the 2019-nCoV scare.
“It’s not within our guidelines, the suspension of classes, at this point. There is no communication from the WHO (World Health Organization). I really do not know, we will try to find out [their reasons],” he said.
“No need to suspend classes as of now. There is no indication,” he added.
Education Secretary Leonor Briones, who was also in the same press briefing, said that while private schools have the autonomy to decide on their classes, they should first consult with the DoH.
She added that they must conduct make-up classes to make up for the lost school days because of the suspension of classes.
“Private sector schools have a greater degree of autonomy so what we did was to remind them that if they do suspend, these are their own decisions, but they have to conduct make-up classes,” Briones said.
Self-protection measures
Duque likewise reminded the public about taking care of themselves to avoid getting the virus.
He advised about hand hygiene, proper coughing etiquette, consuming enough water, cooking food thoroughly, and immediate consultation when experiencing the symptoms of the virus.
Duque, likewise, urged the public to avoid contact with those showing symptoms, farm animals, shaking hands, brushing cheeks or “beso-beso,” and even fist bumps.
He also discouraged the public from eating
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