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By APD writer****Melo M. Acuña
MANILA – “There are still no confirmed cases of the Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCOV) in the country,” thus said Health Secretary Francisco T. Duque III at the launch of the first daily press conference on the emerging infectious disease after the first Interagency Task Force Meeting with the Departments of Foreign Affairs, Interior and Local Government, Justice, Labor and Employment, Tourism, Transportation and Information and Communications Technology.
Representatives from the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration, Overseas Workers Welfare Administration, Civil Aviation Authority, Civil Aviation Board and representatives from the World Health Organization (WHO).
Secretary Duque said they are monitoring at least 27 patients across the country, three of whom were released from hospital confinement for failure to manifest coronavirus infection but showed other diseases.
“There are 13 in Metro Manila, three in Western Visayas, three in Central Visayas, one in MIMAROPA, one in Eastern Visayas and another one in Northern Mindanao,” Secretary Duque said.
The Department of Health is awaiting results for 13 persons under observation from the Research Institute of Tropical Medicine for screening and six laboratory results from the Australia-based Victorian Infections Disease Reference Laboratory for confirmation.
The inter-agency officials agreed to support overseas Filipinos in China and provide comprehensive transport and quarantine plans for Filipinos from Hubei province who wish to “voluntarily return” to the Philippines. There will also be temporary restrictions on the issuance of visas for travelers from Hubei and issuing advisories temporarily discouraging non-essential travel to China.
“I wish to inform our kababayans (compatriots) that the government will take care of you whether you choose to stay or return home. For those who wish to return, you be will taken care of in a health facility for monitoring and further medical management,” Secretary Duque added.
For those who opt to stay in China, Filipino government officials called on them to adhere to advisories and cooperate with public health activities implemented by local authorities. Meanwhile, Secretary Duque said Filipinos in other countries will receive sufficient information and health support through telemedicine.
Undersecretary Rolando Enrique Domingo said the remaining 24 patients being observed in isolation wards are both Filipinos and Chinese nationals who traveled to Wuhan recently. He refused to identify their identities and medical facilities due to their right to privacy.
Dr. Rabindra Abeyasinghe. WHO representative to the Philippines said there is no need to use masks when people attend to their regular chores.
He said people would need masks should they manifest symptoms or visit persons with suspected coronavirus infection.
According to records from the Department of Foreign Affairs, they estimate some 14,349 Filipinos working in China as of December 2019, with the biggest number of 7,043 under the jurisdiction of the Philippine Consulate General in Shanghai. There are 3,118 Filipinos under the coverage of the Philippine Embassy in Beijing with 2,643 under the Consulate General in Guangzhou and 1,107 under the Xiamen Philippine Consulate General. There were 438 Filipino workers under the Philippine Consulate General in Chongqing.The Philippine Consulate General in Hong Kong reported 244,333 Filipino workers as of November 2019. About 36,165 Filipino workers earn their living in Macau according to the Philippine Consulate General as of June 30,2019.
Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Brigido Dulay said Filipinos do not report to the consulates general or embassies as a matter of practice. (Melo M. Acuña)
(ASIA PACIFIC DAILY)
