TACLOBAN CITY (CIO 1/28/2020) – The City Government here is set to form a special task force that will put in place health protocol and prevention measures against the threat of the deadly 2019 n-CoV (Wuhan coronavirus). As directed by Mayor Alfred S. Romualdez the Local Health Board convened on Tuesday, January 28, 2020, to discuss possible interventions and policies that will check the entry of the deadly new strain of coronavirus in the City.

Acting Health Officer Dr. Gloria Fabrigas presided over the meeting which gathered the various health and disaster mitigation offices of the City such as the Tacloban City Hospital, the Tacloban City Rescue Unit, and City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office (CDRRMO). City Councilor Elvira G. Casal, who heads the Committee on Health of the City Council also attended the meeting held at the City Mayor’s Boardroom.

The Department of Health 8 Regional Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit Head Boyd Cerro was also present to give an update on the Person Under Investigation (PUI) currently quarantined at the Eastern Visayas Medical Center.

As discussed during the meeting, the City Health Office and the City Hospital will coordinate with local and national government agencies as regards the implementation of health protocols and screening procedures.

On the other hand, to prevent a repeat of the unauthorized release of n-CoV-related information, the CDRRMO, and the City Information Office will take charge of the information drive and dissemination of updates to the public.

Meantime, as per the report of the DOH, the PUI, a 36-year-old foreign national who has travel history from Wuhan is recovering. The man was hospitalized on January 23 after exhibiting “coronavirus-like” symptoms.

“He is doing well with occasional cough, but we are still waiting for the test result before he can be discharged”, said Cerro.

According to the official, tests have been conducted and sent to the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine, and the result is expected to be released anytime this week.

Meanwhile, individuals who have been in close contact with the patient have been told to practice “self-quarantine” and other precautionary measures.

To date, Tacloban City and the rest of the country remain free from the Wuhan Coronavirus which has caused 82 deaths and 2,744 confirmed cases across China, but health officials advise the public to practice preventive measures to guard against the virus. These measures include frequent hand washing, observance of cough etiquette (covering the mouth when coughing), and immediate medical attention. – H. J. Roca/CIO

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