BACOLOD CITY, Philippines – The City Health Office here has confirmed that two persons have been placed under investigation for showing signs and symptoms of the 2019 novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV).
Both are males and had travelled abroad.
Dr. Grace Tan, spokesperson of the local Inter-Agency Task Force Against nCoV said a 43-year old Canadian who travelled to Taiwan and a 12-year old Filipino who travelled to Hongkong are in Corazon Locsin Memorial Regional Hospital for observation.
Tan said the specimen samples of the two were already sent to the Research Institute of Tropical Medicine to determine if they are infected with the said disease.
The results of the specimen of the Canadian is expected to be released tomorrow while that of the Filipino will be on Wednesday.
Tan reminded those who went to countries affected with nCoV not to withhold information about their travel history and to visit the hospital if they feel any signs or symptoms of the disease.
“Please do not withhold information if you have a history of travel to China, Macau, Hongkong, Taiwan or neighboring countries. If you have any signs or symptoms when you arrive here, please inform us immediately,” Tan said.
The health officer, meanwhile, advised the public to not panic but to be vigilant in receiving information about nCov.
Tan said only the Secretary of Health Francisco Duque III is allowed to officially declare confirmed cases of nCov.