ILOILO – Three Chinese nationals were placed under house quarantine in the town of Banate after exhibiting flu-like symptoms after their vacation in China last week.
Town mayor Carlos Cabangal Jr. ordered a municipal medical staff to check the three Chinese – a mother and her two children – after residents informed him on Friday that the foreigners, who were running a business in the town, allegedly have fever and cough.
“Matuod na kay na-monitor namon kahapon nga halin ina sila gali sa ila lugar sa China. So, pagkabalo ko kahapon nga daw may nabatyag sila nga sip-on or ubo amo to ginpakadtoan ko kag gin-lack down nga hold lang anay sila sa ila ginadayunan,” Cabangal said.
He added a medical personnel of the town’s Rural Health Unit monitors the health status of the three from time to time.
Cabangal ordered the temporary closure of the establishment owned by this Chinese family as one of the precautionary measures – which include putting the family on home quarantine – to safeguard the public amid the 2019 novel coronavirus (2019 nCoV) scare.
Authorities have yet to know the age of the two children and their mother, according to Cabangal, as well as their travel history and the people whom they had close contact with.
Meanwhile, Dr. Jane Juanico, head of the Infectious Disease Section of the Department of Health in Western Visayas, said their field personnel are currently tracking down the travel history of the three Chinese as they monitor their situation.
Juanico added the Health agency allows home quarantine to persons who traveled to countries with positive cases of the 2019 nCoV particularly China where the virus originated.
The Chinese nationals will be under observation daily for around 14 days, Juanico said, if signs and symptoms persist or become worse, they will be referred to a health facility.
“May mga cases nga naga-warrant sang hospital quarantine, iban naga-warrant home quarantine, length of stay more or less 14 days upon arrival para i-observe kon may development sa travelers especially on signs and symptoms,” Juanico added./PN
