MANILA -- The Department of Health (DOH) on Wednesday reported that its Epidemiology Bureau (EB) has assessed 203 contacts, 188 of whom have been under home quarantine, from the first and second confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) in the country.
"Of the 203 contacts, 15 are symptomatic where 14 were already isolated for monitoring. DOH is currently working with other concerned agencies to expedite the contact tracing process," Health Undersecretary Eric Domingo said in a press briefing at the DOH main office in Manila.
Domingo urged the passengers from Cebu Pacific flight 5J241 (Hong Kong-Cebu) on January 20 and 21; Cebu Pacific flight DG6519 (Cebu-Dumaguete) on January 21; and Philippine Airlines flight PR2542 (Dumaguete-Manila) on January 25 to cooperate with DOH representatives who will contact them for assessment.
"'Yung first case natin, wala na talaga siyang sakit, pero di pa natin siya pinapauwi dahil positive pa rin siya in the last 48 hours, pero ang viral load niya ay bumaba na (Our first case, she's no longer sick, but she's not allowed to go home because she's still positive in the last 48 hours but her viral load has gone down)," Domingo said.
Domingo added that President Rodrigo Duterte has ordered the cremation of the 44-year-old Chinese male who died on Saturday, the second confirmed 2019-nCoV case in the country.
"The directive of the President is to perform the cremation today (Wednesday). I cannot give you the details on the cremation. The family has expressed the approval on the cremation through the embassy," he said.
As of Wednesday noon, the DOH has reported a cumulative total of 133 persons under investigation (PUIs) for the 2019-nCoV acute respiratory disease.
Of the 133 PUIs, 115 are currently admitted and isolated while 16 have been discharged but under strict monitoring.
Among the PUIs, 63 are Filipinos, 54 are Chinese, and 16 are from other nationalities.
About 32 of the foreign PUIs have traveled to Wuhan in central China, the epicenter of the outbreak.
Domingo also reiterated that proper hand hygiene and cough etiquette remain the public's best protection against the 2019-nCoV. (PNA)
