THE patient under investigation for the 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) in Northern Mindanao was scheduled to be discharged Monday, January 27, following several tests that yielded negative results.
The Camiguin Provincial Health Office bared this in an advisory Monday, shortly after Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said a patient in the Camiguin General Hospital is under investigation for the 2019-nCoV.
“The Provincial Government of Camiguin has and always will be meticulous when it comes to disease of public health concern,” the advisory, signed by Camiguin Provincial Health Officer Gretchen Cabalang and Camiguin Governor Jurdin Jesus Romualdo, stated.
The patient is identified only as a 29-year-old male. He is among 11 foreigners listed by the Department of Health as patients under investigation (PUI) for the 2019-nCoV.
The Camiguin advisory said surveillance measures are in place to ensure that residents and guests on the island are safe.
The DOH has not issued any statement on the update from Camiguin as of Monday afternoon.
In a press briefing on Monday morning, Duque said the PUIs are in Metro Manila (2), Mimaropa (1), Northern Mindanao (1), Western Visayas (3), Eastern Visayas (1) and Central Visayas (3).
Duque said the patients are Chinese nationals, Brazilians, a German, and an American.
All 11 patients have traveled to Wuhan City in China where the virus is believed to have originated.
In response to the threat, Duque said they have issued guidelines and created a task force to combat the 2019-nCoV.
Border screening through thermal screening has also been intensified, as well as strictly evaluating sick passengers.
According to the DOH, there are now 2,104 cases of the 2019-nCoV in the world, while 56 deaths have been recorded.