BACOLOD City – Sixty-five individuals who were earlier quarantined for 14 days in Negros Oriental have been declared free of the 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) acute respiratory disease.
Those persons include 40 who came in close-contact with the Chinese couple infected by nCoV, according to the Negros Oriental provincial government.
The individuals were given medical certificates and have been cleared to report back to their respective workplaces today. The provincial government also provided P5,000 for the affected individuals as financial support.
As of yesterday, all 82 persons who had contact with the Chinese couple have been traced, Gov. Roel Degamo said.
Interviewed on Dobol B sa News TV aired on GMA News TV, Degamo said eight were considered as persons under investigation (PUIs) for suspected nCoV infection but four of them already tested negative in the first test.
“Lahat nate-trace na namin. A total of 82 na mayroong hinihinalang contact doon sa dalawang Chinese na nagpunta dito sa amin,” Degamo said.
He confirmed that there are still two
patients under monitoring undergoing the required 14-day quarantine.
The two individuals, both Chinese nationals, are reported to be very
cooperative with authorities and currently staying at their rented house.
“Nagpapasalamat po kami sa Panginoon na
hindi nahawa ‘yung mga empleyado ng
isang resort dito,” Degamo said.
He cited the CCTV system in Dumaguete City, where all cameras are working, for the effective tracing of the Chinese couple.
“Tensyonado lang nang kaunti noong simula, pero ngayon balik normal na ang mga tao,” the governor said.
The Department of Health on Saturday reported one confirmed case of nCoV infection in Central Visayas but was already discharged. At least 14 PUIs are currently admitted while one was discharged in the region.
To date, there have been three confirmed cases of nCoV infection in the Philippines – a 38-year-old female Chinese, her 44-year-old male Chinese companion who died, and a 60-year-old Chinese female.
At least 57 cases were tested negative, while 155 are still pending.
The number of deaths due to nCoV, which started in Wuhan, China, reached 811 in China on Sunday. (With GMA News/PN)
