THE Department of Health (DOH)-Bureau of Quarantine (BOQ) Davao is monitoring three direct flights between Davao City and China, Hong Kong, and Singapore amid the new coronavirus outbreak in China.

The bureau assured that there is no infected person in the city yet.

In an interview with Wilson Lim of BOQ on Tuesday, January 21, he said they have not monitored any passenger who manifested signs and symptoms of the new strain of coronavirus that has been traced back to a pneumonia outbreak in central China.

No foreign nationals, especially Chinese who arrived in the city from China, have been requested for isolation because of suspicious temperature.

The World Health Organization (WHO) said symptoms of the mysterious disease include respiratory symptoms, fever, cough, shortness of breath and breathing difficulties. In more severe cases, an infection can cause pneumonia, severe acute respiratory syndrome, kidney failure, and even death.

At Davao International Airport (DIA), Lim said thermal scanners were installed to detect the body temperature of passengers.

Lim said even without the order of the main office, they have been doing their protocols to ensure that diseases from other countries will not enter the city and pose a health risk to Dabawenyos.

They estimated around 130 to 150 Chinese nationals who travel to Davao City daily.

Based on the report, a total of three individuals were confirmed to have died because of the mysterious disease while over a hundred have been sick after being infected. Thailand, Japan, and South Korea have confirmed cases of Chinese nationals infected with the virus in their countries.

To prevent infection, WHO recommends practicing proper hygiene such as cleaning hand with soap and water or alcohol-based hand rub; cover nose and mouth when coughing and sneezing with tissue or flexed elbow; avoid close contact with anyone with cold or flu-like symptoms; thoroughly cook meat and eggs, and avoid unprotected contact with live wild or farm animals.