MANILA – The five-year-old Chinese boy from Wuhan, China who was being monitored by the Department of Health (DOH) in Cebu City has tested negative from the 2019 novel coronavirus.
In a statement on Friday evening, the DOH said that it received sample tests results from the Victorian Infectious Disease Reference Laboratory in Melbourne, Australia which shows the boy negative from the virus.
“[Samples] from the child suspected of being infected with the 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) tested negative for the said virus,” the health department said.
The boy traveled with his mother from Wuhan to Cebu City on Jan. 12. He was admitted for investigation after he was found to have shown pneumonia-like symptoms such as fever, cough and throat irritation.
The boy earlier tested positive for the pancoronavirus. Pancoronavirus screening is a test to determine if a person has contracted a coronavirus strain.
“This is indeed very welcome news to ease the Filipinos’ growing concern. I assure everyone that your Department of Health will not stop here and is on top of this emerging health event,” Heath Secretary Francisco Duque said.
The novel coronavirus has already killed 26 people and left 800 others ill in China.
DOH has recommended all tourists who have gone to Wuhan and who show symptoms of fever and cough, to immediately seek medical attention./PN
