ILOILO City – Eight persons who have close contacts with the Chinese couple who tested positive to then novel coronavirus acute respiratory disease (2019-nCoV ARD) have shown flu-like symptoms.
Department of Health (DOH) Epidemiology Bureau head Dr. Ferchito Avelino said Monday the eight patients are among the 74 “close contacts” of the Chinese couple already accounted for by local health officials.
According to Avelino, the eight patients, who exhibited cough and colds, are being closely monitored and they were among the 80 persons under investigation currently being watched by the health authorities.
“They were given advice on home quarantine. This will involve isolation inside their house. They are not allowed to interact with their families,” Avelino said.
DOH Secretary Francisco Duque III said in a separate press conference that 67 of the patients under investigation (PUI) are still confined and isolated in various hospitals around the country, while 10 have already been discharged.
He added that 30 of the PUIs tested negative for the respiratory illness, but remain under strict monitoring. Results of 48 samples meanwhile remain pending.
The Philippines has recorded two confirmed cases of coronavirus from two Chinese nationals who visited the country on January 21. One of them, a 44-year-old man, died on Saturday, marking the first reported death due to the virus outside of China./PN
