HEALTH officials in Eastern Visayas confirmed that the person under investigation (PUI) in Tacloban City was tested negative for Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome-coronavirus (Sars-CoV) and will undergo more tests for the possible strain of 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV).
“He was isolated in one of the referral hospitals since January 23 up to now with good condition, normal vital signs, no cough and fever. The PUI will be discharged once the laboratory results will turn negative,” said the Department of Health (DOH)-Eastern Visayas Center for Health Development on Thursday, January 30.
The statement came after Health Secretary Francisco Duque III announced the first positive case of 2019-nCoV in the country on Thursday.
The PUI in Tacloban is a 36-year-old male foreign national who worked in Wuhan, China and arrived in the city on January 17, 2020.
He voluntarily submitted for a hospital check-up after he experienced influenza-like symptoms such as unproductive cough and fever.
The sample of the PUI was collected on January 25, 2020 and was tested at the Research institute of Tropical Medicine (RITM) on January 27.
His samples tested negative after the laboratory test performed for Sars-CoV.
Meanwhile, DOH advised those with a history of travel to Wuhan, Hubei, China or coming from countries with confirmed cases of 2019-nCoV to “immediately seek medical attention” if they are experiencing influenza like symptoms like fever, cough and colds.
“The public is advised to remain calm but vigilant, always practice hand hygiene, and observe the proper cough etiquette,” said the department. (SunStar Philippines)