THE Department of Health (DOH) in Northern Mindanao confirmed that more than two persons are under observation for a possible infection caused by the 2019 novel coronavirus or 2019-nCoV in the region.

DOH-Northern Mindanao assistant director Dr. Dave Mendoza said the two persons are in Northern Mindanao Medical Center (NMMC) while a number of people are staying in their homes but placed under observation.

Mendoza said these people have travel history from China and have a flu.

They will be under observation for 14 days while their specimens have already been collected and sent to the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM).

Mendoza said he will not call them persons under investigation (PUI) because they are only showing light symptoms.

“They have history of travel, pero naa lang gamay gibati. When you say PUI, there is strong correlation or big chance that the person may have the infection,” he added.

Mendoza, meanwhile, said this is still not cause for a panic since standard infection prevention and control measures are being observed at the hospital to ensure that staff, other patients, and the general public remain protected.

He added that since the virus is not airborne, observing proper hand hygiene is still important than wearing face masks.

“We have nothing to worry about since we don’t have local transmission yet. We at the DOH is on top of the situation, we have strong coordination with the hospitals in the region to intensify the monitoring,” he added.