Hospitals urged to report new coronavirus cases

MANILA, Philippines (Xinhua) - The Department of Health (DOH) ordered hospitals nationwide today to report all suspected cases of new coronavirus in response to World Health Organization (WHO)'s call.

DOH Secretary Enrique Ona issued the directive following the call of the WHO asking health authorities to correctly report any case of new coronavirus and not to describe it as "SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome)- like" to avoid confusion.

"The new coronavirus may be spread through person-to-person transmission although it remains not to be highly contagious based on the few patients reported so far," Ona said.

He asked hospitals to report new coronavirus cases when they suspect them using a standard report form available at the National Epidemiology Center.

Patient samples may be sent to the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine for confirmatory testing, he added.

Despite 12 respiratory cases, including five deaths, from several countries like Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Jordan, and the United Kingdom, there are no travel restrictions to and from countries where these cases have been reported, he said.

"The Bureau of Quarantine shall continue to routinely screen in- bound passengers, regardless of country of origin, in ports of entry, for any signs of illness that may require temporary isolation in a health facility or at home," he said.