SAN JOSE, Antique – The first person under investigation for a possible 2019 novel coronavirus acute respiratory disease (2019-nCoV ARD) in Antique has been tested negative, the Integrated Provincial Health Office (IPHO) said.
Antique IPHO chief Dr. Ric Noel Naciongayo cited the laboratory results of the patient under investigation (PUI) sent to the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) in Muntinlupa City.
“Today, Monday, we received again the result of the second sample from the RITM and it was negative from nCoV ARD,” he said on Feb.10.
According to Naciongayo, the PUI was a 29-year-old seaman who manifested flu-like symptoms after he travelled to China.
The first nasopharyngeal and oropharyngeal swabs taken from the patient were sent to the RITM last Feb. 4, while the second ones were delivered two days later.
“The doctor managing the first PUI will have no more reason to have him under hospital confinement so he will be discharged,” he said.
Meanwhile, Naciongayo added that the second PUI – another seaman who had a layover in Hong Kong before going home to Antique – is still under a 14-day quarantine observation in a hospital in this province.
“The second PUI arrived in Antique last Feb. 6 and sought consultation the following day because of flu-like symptoms,” he said.
Swabs taken from the 25-year-old patient from Tobias Fornier were also sent by the IPHO to the RITM last Feb. 7.
“We are still waiting for the result of his laboratory test from the RITM,” he added.
Naciongayo is also requesting the Barangay Emergency Response Teams (BERT) composed of the Barangay Health Workers and Barangay Nutrition Scholars to closely observe the people in their respective areas.
“The BERT should closely monitor tourist visitors or newly arrived residents of their barangay,” he said, adding that this is necessary in order to keep Antique nCoV free. (With a report from PNA/PN)
