ILOILO City – All the 40 persons whom the Department of Health (DOH) Region 6 placed under investigation since January for possible coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) tested negative for the virus.
As March 2, there were no new or additional persons under investigation (PUI) in the region, according to Dr. Mary Jane Juanico, head of DOH Region 6’s Infectious Disease Section.
The last PUI admitted at the Western Visayas Medical Center in Mandurriao district here – an Ilonggo with a history of travel to Hong Kong – tested negative for the virus and as of this writing was preparing to be discharged from the medical facility.
Demand for facemasks surged in recent weeks as people became increasingly concerned of the possibility that COVID-19 could spread in the country. According to pharmacists, there was a dramatic spike in demand after DOH-6 reported on Jan. 29 that it was monitoring one PUI from China who arrived in Iloilo on Jan. 27 complaining of fever.
COVID-19 seems to start with a fever, followed by a dry cough.
The incubation period – between infection and showing any symptoms – lasts up to 14 days, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). But some researchers say it may be as long as 24 days. And Chinese scientists say some people may be infectious even before their symptoms appear.
After a week, it leads to shortness of breath and some patients require hospital treatment.
Of the 40 cleared PUI, nine were from Aklan province, two from Antique, eight from Capiz, nine from Iloilo, five from Negros Occidental, four from Bacolod City, and three from Iloilo City.
DOH-6 recorded no PUI from the island province of Guimaras.
Despite the good news, Juanico said, DOH-6 remains vigilant and so, too, must all local government units and their Barangay Health Emergency Response Teams (BHERTs).
As to the presence of South Koreans in the region, Juanico said of the 11 recent visitors from Daegu City – epicenter of the virus outbreak in South Korea – eight who proceeded to Boracay Island in Aklan left on Feb. 28 while the three others were set to return to their country over the weekend.
In Iloilo City, the city government is not leaving anything to chance. Foreigners from countries with confirmed cases of COVID-19 are prohibited from attending mass gathering.
Mayor Jerry Treñas said people with a history of travel to other countries with COVID-19 and have not completed 14 days of quarantine are also not allowed to attend mass gatherings.
Just this Feb. 25 the city mayor issued an executive order suspending all major public gatherings up to the end of March.
He also urged residents to practice proper respiratory hygiene when at mass gatherings. This includes covering the nose and mouth with disposable tissue or elbow when coughing or sneezing. Dispose used tissue properly.
Persons with signs and symptoms of respiratory infection such as cough and cold should wear medical masks, he added, and after contact with respiratory secretions, one should perform hand hygiene.
Globally, more than 80,000 people have been infected. About 2,800 have died – the vast majority in China’s Hubei province, the epicenter of the outbreak.
WHO has upgraded the global risk of the coronavirus outbreak to “very high” Friday last week, its top level of risk assessment.
More than 50 countries have now reported cases of coronavirus./PN
