GOVERNOR Arthur Defensor Jr. has ordered the procurement of non-contact infrared thermometers to monitor passengers coming through Iloilo seaports.
This developed after the Province of Iloilo has required passengers entering Iloilo through seaports to accomplish the so-called health declaration card.
These measures, Defensor said, aim to prevent the entry of the new coronavirus, now officially known as the Coronavirus Disease or Covid-19.
Defensor immediately convened the Capitol's Disaster Cluster after his arrival from Manila on February 12, so he can be appraised of the updates on the Covid-19 outbreak.
The health declaration card is a tool to track the travel history of passengers, while the infrared thermometer is used to know a person's temperature without contact. Those going down roll-on-roll-off (Roro) vessels will have to go through forehead scanning to determine whether they have fever or not.
Those who have fever, cough, or colds; with history of travel to China, Macao, and Hong Kong within the past 14 days; and with history of exposure are considered as persons under investigation (PUIs) and should be admitted.
Those without health symptoms; with or without history of travel to China, Macao, and Hong Kong within the past 14 days; and without history of exposure are considered persons under monitoring (PUMs) and will be home quarantined for 14 days.
Those who came from other parts of the world with confirmed Covid-19, with no history of exposure, but with health symptoms are considered PUMs.
At least 20 non-contact infrared thermometers will be purchased by the Provincial Health Office (PHO) and it was suggested that health workers will be deployed to operate them.
The PHO is now looking for suppliers for the equipment so it can already implement the measures together with the Philippine Coast Guard and the Maritime Industry Authority. (PR)