nCoV-FREE. Dr. Mariano Antonio Banzon, city health officer of Balanga City in Bataan, says on Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2020, that the city and the whole province are still free from the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV). He added, however, that there are two persons under investigation, both foreigners, in two towns. (Photo by Ernie Esconde)
BALANGA CITY, Bataan -- A health official here on Tuesday said the city and the whole of Bataan province are still free from the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) but there are two persons under investigation (PUIs) in two towns.
City Health Officer, Dr. Mariano Antonio Banzon said the two PUIs are both foreigners, a Chinese national and a Briton.
"As of now, Balanga and Bataan per se are still nCoV free, wala tayong (we don't have) confirmed cases, although we have two PUIs, one from Mariveles and one from Hermosa,” Banzon said.
He said the Chinese national was confined at the Bataan General Hospital in Balanga City while the British national is at the Jose Lingad Memorial Hospital in San Fernando, Pampanga.
Banzon said the city is prepared for any eventuality should there be confirmed cases of nCoV.
He said they have started undertaking a massive information drive to erase wrong information posted on social media.
“Even in all public schools, the same information campaign began,” he said.
Banzon said he would also be conferring with all the barangay captains in 25 villages on Wednesday.
“Kakausapin natin ang mga kapitan upang magbuo ng barangay health response team sa bawat barangay bilang pagtupad sa utos ni (We will talk with the barangay captains for them to create barangay health response team in every village in compliance with the directive of) DILG Secretary Eduardo Año. Ito ay gagawin natin upang ma-inform ang buong siyudad tungkol sa nCoV (This is what we will do to inform the whole city regarding nCoV),” he said.
Banzon said the city hall is also preparing for the procurement of n95 masks, ordinary face masks and thermal scanners.
“Under procurement pa dahil alam nating nakakahirapan sa face mask (It is still under procurement because we know that it is hard to purchase face masks. We are also trying to procure thermal scanner para sa mga rural units natin upang madetect talaga kung merong lagnat ang isang tao (for our rural units so that we can indeed detect if a person has fever),” he said.
Banzon advised the general public to immediately go to various clinics in the city if they have cold, cough and fever.
He said there are health units in Barangays San Jose, Pto. Rivas, Cupang, Villa Lina and Poblacion.
Banzon said he was also in close contact with the City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office for the necessary preparations.
“Pero ngayon (but for now) let’s be safe, kailangan lang nating gawin ang magpakasigla, iwasan ang bisyo, matulog ng maaga, magpahinga at huwag magpaka-stressed para huwag bumaba ang ating mga resistensiya at malabanan ang sakit na papasok sa katawan natin (we need to be active, avoid vices, sleep early, rest and do not stress yourselves in order to not decrease our resistance and we can fight any disease that will enter our bodies),” he said.
He also underscored the importance of practicing good personal hygiene.
Banzon said city health workers are well protected in case they have possible nCoV cases to investigate.
Meanwhile, face masks are hard to find in both small and big drug stores in Balanga City. In some pharmacies, even rubbing alcohol is out of stock. (PNA)
