BACOLOD City Mayor Evelio Leonardia has issued Executive Order (EO) No. 2-A Series of 2020 creating the Bacolod City Inter-Agency Task Force against the 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV).
The EO, which was signed by Leonardia Friday, January 31, stated that the World Health Organization (WHO) received reports of several cases of pneumonia of unknown cause in Wuhan City, China on December 2019. This strain was later identified as 2019-nCoV or the novel coronavirus which belongs to a family of viruses that include the common colds and the more serious ones, severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and the middle east respiratory syndrome (Mers).
International news outlets report that the total number of people in China infected with the virus has reached 9,720 and more than 80 cases recorded outside China, with a death toll of 213 as of today.
Leoanrdia said the Department of Health (DOH) on January 30, 2020 confirmed that a 38-year-old female Chinese patient under investigation (PUI) who entered the Philippines and is confined in a government hospital has tested positive for 2019-nCoV.
“On the same day, the WHO declared a global health emergency as the novel coronavirus outbreak has spread well beyond China. This is an urgent need to create a task force dedicated to properly address this rapidly emerging health threat,” he said.
The task force will be led by Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran as chairperson with its vice-chairpersons Councilor Cindy Rojas and City Health Officer Ma. Carmela Gensoli.
The members are Councilors Dindo Ramos, Lady Gles Gonzales; Bacolod City Police Office director Colonel Henry Binas; Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG)-Bacolod director Joy Maredith Madayag; Bureau of Quarantine Provincial Head Dr. Sebastian Tabuga; DOH- Western Visayas Ben Arnel Dela Cruz; Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital director Dr. Julius Drilon; Department of Trade and Industry Provincial Director Rachel Nufable.
Other members also include Schools Division Superintendent officer-in-charge Gladys Amelaine Sales; Bureau of Quarantine Alien Control Officer Mita Chuvy Arguelles; Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines Engr. Percy Malonesio; Philippine Ports Authority acting manager Loven Serran; Philippine Coast Guard-Bacolod head Jansen Benjamin; Land Transportation Office- Bacolod head Renato Novero; Emerging and re-emerging disease program coordinator-CHO Dr. Grace Tan; Executive Assistants Joemarie Vargas, Butch Soliguen; City Tourism Office officer-in-charge Sandra Sycip; Public Information Officer Danny Dangcalan; and Hotel and Restaurant Association of Negros Occidental president Roberto Magalona.
Leonardia said the task force will create a standard protocol in dealing with the threat of the 2019-nCoV, will coordinate with the national and local crisis management committee in addressing the epidemic, will collaborate with other government agencies or offices , private entities, and the non-government organizations in combating this new health menace, assess and ensure the preparedness of the city’s public and private hospitals to handle a positive case and to immediately set up isolation measures, and will direct the 61 barangays, public and private schools, and all business establishments to prepare through education and information dissemination on how to prevent the spread of the virus.
The task force will also report and update the city mayor on all its plans and actions on a regular basis and to perform other actions necessary and relevant to its primary functions and duties.
Leonardia also met with the barangay officials yesterday along with the CHO at the Bacolod Government Center.
Familiaran said he will meet with the members of the task force on Monday to tackle all the concerns on how to prevent the spread of 2019-nCoV. (MAP)