Don’t panic: Government seeks to contain virus spread

MANILA, Philippines — The government gave assurance yesterday that it is undertaking measures to contain the country’s first case of the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) and urged the public to remain calm and abide by health protection advisories.

The Department of Health (DOH) confirmed that a 38-year-old Chinese woman from Wuhan, China who flew in from Hong Kong on Jan. 21 is the first case of the virus in the Philippines.

“With the first confirmed case of the 2019-novel coronavirus, we ask the public not to panic and to remain calm as the government, especially the Department of Health, is on top of the situation,” said Presidential Communications Secretary Martin Andanar.

“We would like to assure (the public) that the relevant health, research and law enforcement agencies are working together to prevent the disease from spreading,” he added.

Amid fears that more people from China may carry the coronavirus into the Philippines, Andanar said agencies would continue to conduct stringent customs, immigration and quarantine measures to prevent the spread of the disease.?He also said that the government would coordinate with Chinese authorities for the repatriation of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in China.

A coronavirus hotline would also be created to assist OFWs and other Filipinos residing in China on virus prevention and countermeasures.?“We advise everyone to observe all health and preventive advisories issued by the DOH on the matter. Let us also observe proper hygiene and cleanliness in order to prevent the likelihood of contracting the virus,” Andanar said.?The DOH is coordinating with health and research authorities in Australia, Japan and China to implement precautionary measures, Andanar added. ?He also advised the public to remain vigilant and to coordinate with local barangay health centers if they observe symptoms associated with the nCoV. ?“Let’s continue to remain calm and heed the advisories of the DOH and the rest of the government on the matter, as we continue to monitor such developments and take the appropriate actions in dealing with the 2019-nCoV,” Andanar said.

Repatriation

Speaking to reporters in Quezon City the other day, President Duterte said the government is willing to repatriate some 50 Filipinos from Wuhan, but noted that Chinese authorities are discouraging the movement of people from there to prevent the spread of the virus. ?“That place is really, admittedly by all, contaminated. And it is locked down in the sense that no one from that place can go out and the others cannot come in. It is practically like a prison where you cannot move around or get out of the place. They are discouraging movement even in the place itself. Avoid contacts... to avoid contamination,” Duterte said. ?“We are always conscious of our citizens (and) their health. And if they are going home, we are ready to ferry them back to the Philippines but all precautions must be in place,” he added.

Presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo, speaking early yesterday, said the Philippines would have to seek permission from Wuhan authorities before conducting the repatriation. “There will be a problem if there are travel restrictions there,” Panelo said at a press briefing.

Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. said China is reluctant to agree to repatriating Filipinos from Wuhan, quoting department Assistant Secretaries Meynardo Montealegre and Neil Frank Ferrer who met Chinese embassy officials in Manila.

Following that meeting in which Chinese consul general Luo Gan briefed DFA officials on all measures undertaken by China to stop the spread of the virus, Locsin tweeted: “Repatriation will only spread virus.”

Still, he said China will advise the Philippine side on how the United States evacuated its nationals.

China also assured sufficient food supply and medical facilities for all, including foreigners, and will share contact information and persons with hospitals in Hubei for the DFA as well as the Philippine consulate general in Shanghai regarding the situation of Filipinos. 

Airport measures

The Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) and Bureau of Quarantine (BOQ) said incoming passengers will be strictly monitored for fever to contain any risk from possible carriers of the virus.

MIAA general manager Ed Monreal said BOQ personnel are using portable thermal scanners aside from those installed at the quarantine area.

Monreal said there is a room dedicated for examination of those with fever as well as an ambulance near the tarmac just in case a patient with travel history to contaminated areas needs to be taken to hospital.

It is noticeable that passengers and employees at the country’s premier gateway are already wearing protective masks as part of measures to prevent possible spread of the disease.

“It’s better for me to exercise caution than risk getting sick and being unable to work,” Efren Santos, a departing passenger for Malaysia, told The STAR.

Employees manning all the counters at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) terminals are also wearing masks.

The MIAA had placed hand sanitizer dispensers at the counters and other strategic areas of the airport.

Earlier, the DOH issued precautionary guidelines against the disease through the acyonym “WUHAN,” which stands for: 

W-wash hands; U-use mask properly; H-have temperature checked regularly; A-avoid large crowds; N-never touch your face with unclean hands and no beso-beso or kissing.

Local isolation

Down to the local governments, mayors have been directed to isolate people who have been in countries with confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus.

“Make sure that the proper isolation be implemented if there are constituents that are coming from areas that are contaminated or affected,” Interior and Local Government Secretary Eduardo Año told reporters of his order yesterday.

Año said the directive to be proactive in preventing the entry and spread of the potentially deadly virus has been issued to provincial governors, mayors and barangay captains.

“We make sure the local chief executives will spearhead this proactive prevention of this contamination,” he said.

Entry slowdown

The Bureau of Immigration (BI) said it expects a significant decline in the number of Chinese coming into the country.

BI spokesperson Dana Sandoval said the closure of some ports in China due to the outbreak will significantly reduce the number of Chinese traveling to the Philippines.

In addition, the visa-upon-arrival privilege afforded Chinese group tours is already suspended, cutting the volume of Chinese arrivals by five percent.

Sandoval admitted an increase in Chinese tourists entering the Philippines due to the Chinese New Year holiday, but that recent developments would cause a slowdown.

Meanwhile, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) called on overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) to advise the Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) if any of them or their kababayan have contracted the potentially deadly virus.

“We enjoin our OFW kababayans to immediately report suspected case of OFWs with symptoms (of nCoV) to hospitals and the Philippine Overseas Labor Office for possible assistance,” Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III said in an advisory issued worldwide.

‘Great wall’

Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto suggested that Chinese visitors be shunned for the time being.

“I think it is time to put a temporary ‘Do not enter sign’ on our doorstep for visitors from China,” he said.

“Let us explain to them that we are not permanently closing our doors. This is not a permanent Great Wall. This is only during the duration of the coronavirus crisis,” said Recto, adding that such an action is consistent with what China is doing to stave off the spread of the virus. – With Pia Lee-Brago, Emmanuel Tupas, Roberzon Ramirez, Rudy Santos, Mayen Jaymalin, and Cecille Suerte Felipe