THE Department of Health (DOH) in Eastern Visayas has confirmed that the number of suspected cases of the 2019 novel coronavirus acute respiratory disease (2019-nCoV ARD) in the region has reached to 11 as four more patients were placed under investigation (PUIs) on Friday, February 7.
Dr. Minerva Molon, DOH regional director, said the new patients are now isolated and managed in a government-run referral hospital.
The new PUIs are composed of a 38-year-old Filipino woman who worked in Zhengzhou Henan, China; a 36-year-old American female; an 11-year-old Filipino female with history of travel to Hong Kong; and a 31-year-old Filipino woman who travelled to Hong Kong last January 26.
The 31-year-old PUI was previously considered a person under monitoring (PUM) but she is now experiencing fever and dry cough.
Samples were taken from the new PUI and the specimens will be sent to the Regional Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) for testing, said the DOH.
Of the 11 PUIs in Eastern Visayas, two were already discharged as their laboratory results yielded negative for the 2019-nCoV, while another one was discharged after a 14-day quarantine period.
The eight others are still admitted and isolated.
Meanwhile, health officials advised the public to avoid close contact with people suffering from acute respiratory infections and practice frequent handwashing, especially after direct contact with ill people or their environment.
The DOH also asked the public to refrain from posting and sharing unverified information on social media to avoid misinformation and panic. (SunStar Philippines)