DOH clarifies there is still no confirmed new coronavirus case in Philippines
MANILA, Philippines (Update 2 4:48 p.m.) — The Department of Health clarified that there remain to be no confirmed cases of the new coronavirus (2019-nCoV) in the Philippines as it awaits results of the confirmatory test sent to Australia on the specimen taken from a five-year-old boy from Wuhan.
This amid reports citing DOH Central Visayas which said that subsequent local tests on the Chinese boy who traveled from Wuhan—where the new SARS-like virus is said to have originated—to Cebu City showed negative results for the novel coronavirus. The boy was admitted to a Cebu City hospital for exhibiting fever, throat irritation and cough before entering the Philippines.
In a text message to Philstar.com, however, DOH Undersecretary Eric Domingo confirmed that the department does not have the results yet.
DOH clarifies that, to date, there remains to be no confirmed cases of 2019-nCoV in the Philippines.
— Department of Health (@DOHgov) January 23, 2020
DOH is currently awaiting the results of the confirmatory test. pic.twitter.com/nEcvjet1nI
In a press release earlier that day, the DOH Central Visayas said it still had "no confirmed case of the 2019 nCoV (suspected novel coronavirus). What we have is a confirmed case of non-specific coronaviruses."
For the time being, they reminded the public to remain vigilant against potential respiratory tract infections by "maintaining good health and proper hygiene." They recommended frequent hand-washing, proper nutrition and wearing face masks.
Health Secretary Francisco Duque said in an earlier press briefing that the boy was "considered a person under investigation."
“However, the samples tested positive for the non-specific pancoronavirus assay, thus the specimen has been sent to Australia to identify the specific coronavirus strain," he said.
As of this writing, the Bureau of Quarantine in Central Visayas remains "on double heightened alert."
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