AN INTER-AGENCY task force that will establish measures against 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) was formed in Benguet Province.

The Department of the Interior and Local Government in an earlier memorandum enjoins all local government units to effectively intensify information education campaign against nCoV and implement programs, projects and services that will promote the health and well-being of every Filipino.

Governor Melchor Diclas said the outbreak of the 2019-nCoV disease threatens the lives and safety of Filipinos both local and overseas, hence the need for an inter-sectoral collaboration to establish preparedness and to ensure efficient response to assess, monitor, contain, control and prevent the spread of the disease.

As of February 6, DOH– Cordillera regional director Dr. Amelita Pangilinan said they are monitoring four PUIs in the region where two hails from Benguet and one each for Baguio City and Mt. Province.

The Provincial 2019-nCoV task force chaired by the governor with the vice-governor as the vice-chairperson and co-chaired by the provincial health officer.

Members are comprised of the provincial board members, provincial department heads, provincial police office, line agencies and the 13 municipal mayors.

The members are also divided to technical working teams, quarantine, clinical management, resource mobilization/finance, information education campaign?

Diclas also made a call to the public including those with travel history from Macau, China and Hong Kong, to have themselves check if they are experiencing symptoms of nCoV.

According to World Health Organization, the 2019-nCoV can be transmitted through human to human transmission. This can be facilitated through coughing, sneezing and handling infected respiratory secretions, which could be aggravated during mass gathering.

Common signs of coronavirus infection include flu-like and respiratory symptoms, fever, cough, shortness of breath, breathing difficulties and in severe cases it can cause pneumonia, acute respiratory syndrome, kidney failure and death.