DOH: No novel coronavirus case in Tacloban

LEYTE. Department of Health-Eastern Visayas Director Minerva Molon (3rd from left) answers questions from the local media during a press briefing on the deadly novel coronavirus (nCoV) on January 24, 2019. (Photo courtesy of DOH-Eastern Visayas)
LEYTE. Department of Health-Eastern Visayas Director Minerva Molon (3rd from left) answers questions from the local media during a press briefing on the deadly novel coronavirus (nCoV) on January 24, 2019. (Photo courtesy of DOH-Eastern Visayas)

THE Department of Health (DOH) in Eastern Visayas said Friday, January 24, that there is no case of the dreaded novel coronavirus (nCoV) in Tacloban City.

The DOH's statement came after reports circulated on social media saying a person was admitted in one of the hospitals in Tacloban for showing some symptoms of the mysterious SARS-like disease coming from China.

"If ever there are social media posts (on suspected novel coronavirus patient in Tacloban), the DOH will not deny nor confirm it. We have to follow government protocol based on World Health Organization (WHO) issuances," said DOH Regional Director Minerva Molon in a press briefing.

She added that only Health Secretary Francisco Duque III can confirm the case.

The DOH reiterated that there are no confirmed cases of 2019-nCoV in the Philippines to date.

The agency also called on the public "to be responsible, and refrain from sharing unverified information on the 2019-nCoV Health Event."

"DOH is on top of the issue, and will regularly update the public through its official channels," Duque said.

Meanwhile, the health department urged the public to maintain proper hygiene and sanitation.

These include covering one's mouth and nose with tissue when sneezing; throwing tissue into closed bin after use; cleaning hands with soap and water or alcohol-based hand rub after coughing or sneezing and when caring for the sick; avoiding close contact when experiencing fever and cold or flu-like symptoms; avoiding spitting in public; and seeking medical care if one has a fever, cough and difficulty breathing.

Meanwhile, WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the 2019-nCoV issue has yet to be declared as a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC).

"As it was yesterday, the Emergency Committee was divided over whether the outbreak of novel coronavirus represents a PHEIC or not. Make no mistake. This is an emergency in China, but it has not yet become a global health emergency. It may yet become one," said the director-general in a statement Thursday, January 23.

"WHO's risk assessment is that the outbreak is a very high risk in China, and a high risk regionally and globally," he added.

At least 584 cases have now been reported to WHO, including 17 deaths, while 575 of those cases and all of the deaths have been reported in China, with other cases reported in Japan, the Republic of Korea, Singapore, Thailand, the United States of America and Vietnam.

"We are aware of media reports of suspected cases in other countries, but those cases are still being investigated...We know that there is human-to-human transmission in China, but for now it appears limited to family groups and health workers caring for infected patients," WHO said.

"At this time, there is no evidence of human-to-human transmission outside China, but that doesn't mean it won't happen," it added.

The health organization, however, admitted that "there is still a lot we don't know."

"We don't know the source of this virus, we don't understand how easily it spreads, and we don't fully understand its clinical features or severity. For the moment, WHO does not recommend any broader restrictions on travel or trade. We recommend exit screening at airports as part of a comprehensive set of containment measures," it said.

The WHO recommended that all countries should have in place measures to detect cases of coronavirus, including at health facilities while they are working to prevent human-to-human transmission.

"We are coordinating our networks of global experts. We are working to advance the development of diagnostics, therapeutics and vaccines. We are completely committed to ending this outbreak as soon as possible," it said. (SunStar Philippines)

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