nCoV UPDATES. Dr. Grace Tan (standing, right), spokesperson of the Bacolod City inter-agency task force against the novel coronavirus acute respiratory disease (2019-nCoV ARD), discusses updates on local efforts to curb the outbreak during a meeting with members on Monday (Feb. 10, 2020). As of Tuesday, two out of the six latest patients under investigation admitted in tertiary hospitals in Bacolod have been discharged after being found negative for nCoV. (Photo courtesy of Bacolod City PIO)
BACOLOD CITY – Two out of the six latest patients under investigation (PUIs) admitted in tertiary hospitals here have been discharged after testing negative for the novel coronavirus acute respiratory disease (2019-nCoV ARD).
Dr. Grace Tan, the spokesperson of the city’s inter-agency task force against nCoV, announced the development in a press conference on Tuesday morning.
Tan said the four PUIs still confined consisted of one foreigner and three Filipinos.
One of them is from out-of-town while three are from Bacolod, she said, adding that three of them could also be discharged soon.
“We are awaiting the discharge instructions for the three. Then only one is left,” Tan said.
Before the latest two PUIs were given clearance to leave isolation, three others had been discharged since Wednesday last week.
“If the PUIs will go down to zero, it’s probably because of the lockdown in travel from China, Taiwan, and Hong Kong and Macao and there have been no arrivals from these countries,” she added.
However, Tan said there could still be issues when there are foreigners who traveled by other means in transit to the Philippines.
Tan reiterated her appeal to those who have traveled to nCoV-affected countries to volunteer such information to health authorities.
“Voluntary declaration is better than being hunted down for information,” she added.
At present, the city’s inter-agency task force is also working closely with hotel operators to respond quickly and start introducing preventive measures against the nCoV and other emerging infectious diseases.
Tan said hotels and resorts in the city would be issued health declaration cards to be filled out by guests to be used for evaluation on possible health issues.
“It’s not just for nCoV, but would also be used for future purposes. We hope this practice will now take effect and continue to help us trace guests with infectious disease,” she added.
According to the Department of Health, common signs of nCoV infection include flu-like and respiratory symptoms, such as fever, cough, and breathing difficulties. (PNA)
