THE Department of Health Western Visayas Center for Health Development (DOH-CHD 6), has announced that as of January 28, there are no confirmed cases of 2019 Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) anywhere in Western Visayas or in the Philippines.
The DOH-CHD 6 on its official Facebook page calls on the public to be responsible and refrain from sharing and spreading unverified information regarding the 2019-nCoV.
This also prompts hospitals and schools to make public announcements for information regarding the status of the 2019-nCoV in Iloilo.
Hua Siong College of Iloilo (HSCI) in a letter to its parents from Dr. Jose Barcelona, assistant principal of the Basic Education Department, said they should not fear.
“Hua Siong is ‘coronavirus-free’ and vigilantly monitoring its teachers and learners,” Barcelona said.
As a response to its monitoring as precautionary measures, Barcelona said all school personnel, learners and even parents who traveled to countries and areas with confirmed cases of novel coronavirus who show symptoms of fever, sore throat, cough and runny nose should voluntary quarantine themselves for fifteen days before going back to school.
“He/she should present a medical clearance from a physician and shall be subjected to further check-up by our school medical personnel prior to his/her return,” Barcelona said.
Anyone who has not traveled, but show the symptoms should also refrain from coming to school until medically cleared by a doctor.
Barcelona added that starting on Monday, February 3, anyone who will be found to have a temperature of 37.5 and above through our infrared-Thermometer will be asked to go home and seek medical advice.
Since HSCI is the host of this year’s Chinese New Year celebration, celebrated Wednesday, January 29, and the school students and teachers have been involved in many strenuous activities, the school declares January 30 and 31 as their rest days.
Barcelona said during these two-day school holidays they will sanitize the school, install Infrared Thermometers and employ other mitigating measures that would promote a safer and healthier environment for HSCI.
The QauliMed Health Network through its advisory on January 29, said that there is no confirmed case of 2019-nCoV in any of the QualiMed Health Network facilities.
QualiMed has several healthcare branches in the Philippines including the Qualimed Hospital - Iloilo.
“Rest assured that all infectious cases we receive in our facilities are being dealt with the utmost care and precaution based on DOH-mandated standards and protocols on the treatment and reporting of infectious diseases,” said on its advisory.
QualiMed Health Network said they uphold the privacy rights of their patients and the confidentiality of the health records.
“We strictly comply with Data Privacy Act policies thus we shall be firm in our stand against disclosing any information regarding our clients,” advisory said. “We reiterate that statements of confirmation regarding 2019-nCoV cases must come only from the DOH and their designated agencies tasked by the government to do so.”
They appeal to the public to stay vigilant and take necessary precautions on spreading unverified news and information that may just cause unnecessary panic to the public.
Chief of the Hospital Management Office of the Province of Iloilo Dr. Cynthia Ng said the chief of hospitals of Iloilo province will have a meeting for their official guidelines and pronouncements on Thursday, January 30. This will ensure the Province of Iloilo will have a definitive stand and how they are going to do things when the 2019-nCoV is in the province.
“We will make sure that our triage system is strong and vigilant and we are already preparing our room to the patient whenever there would be and we are trying to schedule the availability of our dedicated ambulance for this purpose and the schedules will be arranged between the chief of hospitals,” Ng said. (SunStar Philippines)