5 CDO, Bacolod patients being monitored for nCoV

MANILA, Philippines — Health authorities are monitoring three persons in Cagayan de Oro City and two others in Bacolod City for showing symptoms of the 2019 novel coronavirus (nCoV).

Two of the patients are confined at the Northern Mindanao Medical Center, according to David Mendoza, Department of Health (DOH) regional epidemiologist.

A task force headed by city health officer Lorraine Nery was created in Cagayan de Oro to combat the possible spread of nCoV.

It is composed of representatives from the police and health offices, JR Borja General Hospital, Northern Mindanao Medical Center, City Price Coordinating Council, Department of Trade and Industry, Department of the Interior and Local Government, DOH, City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Department, Bureau of Immigration and city council.

The task force implemented a lockdown of the Alwana Business Park, a commercial complex in Barangay Cugman, where a number of Chinese citizens are said to be staying.

It said reports that a Chinese citizen died of nCoV in the area on Jan. 31 were hearsay.

Canadian, Pinoy

In Bacolod City, a Canadian citizen and a 12-year-old boy are in isolation in a government hospital for suspected nCoV.

The 43-year-old Canadian came from Taiwan while the 12-year-old Filipino boy flew in from Hong Kong, Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson said yesterday.

Lacson said the foreigner was confined in a private hospital in the city, but later transferred to an isolation facility at the Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital.

 “We  were debating whether to announce this, but it’s not also fair to say everything is ok when we know  there are persons under investigation (PUIs). We don’t want to create a scare… It is good that they are now being quarantined,” he said.

The results of the tests on the PUIs would be known this week.

Lacson  reiterated that there is no confirmed nCoV case in Negros Occidental.

The DOH said 36 persons in the country are under investigation for nCoV as of Sunday.

Bodong Festival

Meanwhile, in Kalinga, the holding of the Bodong Festival on Feb. 13 and 14 as part of the celebration of the 25th anniversary of the province will push through.

Provincial information officer Dionica Mercado said event organizers would provide free face masks, adding that alcohol and sanitizers are available in the venues of various activities.

Mercado allayed fears on the presence of Chinese citizens undertaking the Chico River Pump Irrigation project in Pinukpuk, noting that the workers have been in the area since last year. – With Raymund Catindig