Residents of Negros Occidental, including Bacolod City, have been urged to exercise precautions against the novel coronavirus or 2019-nCoV.
Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson said on Thursday provincial health officer, Dr. Ernell Tumimbang has notified all the district hospitals to be aware of the developments.
“For now, we don’t have a suspected patient (in the province) but just the same, we should be alert,” the governor said.
Lacson also ordered Tumimbang to “just to make sure that we are ready to address the situation” if ever something will happen.
“(Dr. Tumimbang) explained that we already have a system. If there will be a confirmed case, the patient will be moved to Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital (in Bacolod City),” he said.
DOH, in an advisory, said coronavirus is from a family of viruses that cause various diseases characterized by cough and colds leading to serious infections, pneumonia, acute respiratory syndrome, kidney problems, and even death.
In Bacolod, Mayor Evelio Leonardia said the City Health Office (CHO) follows a standard operating procedure in implementing preventive measures, which should now be intensified and made more aggressive.
Dr. Ma. Carmela Gensoli, city health officer, said there is no case in Bacolod but advised those who have symptoms and have been recently to China and other affected areas to immediately seek medical attention.
“If you know anyone who (came from China), please stay away (from that person). We can also advise that person to isolate (himself or herself), just stay at home. Once he or she seeks medical attention, the patient should immediately advise the doctor that he or she came from China or any other affected area,” Gensoli said in a press conference at the Bacolod Government Center.
“If you have cough or colds avoid going to public places. Build your immune system. Maintain good personal hygiene,” the CHO chief added.
Ben Arnel dela Cruz, development management officer of DOH-6, said they have met with local personnel of the Bureau of Quarantine to strengthen surveillance of cases.
He said, however, that residents of the city should not be alarmed since there is no reported coronavirus case in Bacolod.
Recently , the City Council passed a resolution enjoining the City Health Office and the Bacolod City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office to take the necessary assessment and precaution.
The resolution, authored by Councilor Cindy Rojas, stated there is a need for such action after reports of the suspected presence of coronavirus case in Cebu City.
On Thursday, officials of DOH-Central Visayas said the discovery of the coronavirus strain on a five-year-old Chinese boy from Wuhan, China should not cause panic.
The boy “is currently stable and has no more fever, cough and other symptoms associated to nCoV” discovered in Wuhan in the Chinese Province of Hubei.
A total of 830 cases have now been reported to the World Health Organization, including 26 deaths. Most of the deaths and patients have been reported in China, with other cases reported in Japan, the Republic of Korea, Singapore, Thailand, the United States, and Vietnam.
(Nanette Guadalquiver ndb via pna)