Close contacts of two nCoV patients undergoing health checks – DOH

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Health (DOH) on Monday reported that some individuals who had close contact with the  first two individuals confirmed to have been infected by the novel coronavirus acute respiratory disease or 2019-nCoV ARD are being tested by its epidemiology and surveillance personnel.

“Meron na tayong mga napapuntang mga nakasalamuha o nakasabay sa eroplano na mga pasahero ay kasalukuyan ay sinusuri na ng ating epidemiology and surveillance officers,” Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said in an interview with Radyo Inquirer.

(We have encouraged some of their fellow passengers in flights and they are being tested by our epidemiology and surveillance officers.)

Duque was referring to the country’s confirmed cases of nCoV: a 44-year-old Chinese man who traveled from Wuhan, China through Hong Kong and died at San Lazaro Hospital in Manila on Saturday, and his partner, a 38-year-old Chinese woman now in isolation at the same hospital.

The couple traveled to Cebu City on January 21 via a Cebu Pacific flight, then to Dumaguete City on January 22 through a CebGo flight and flew back to Manila on January 25 via Philippine Airlines.

Representatives of airlines that accommodated the two Chinese nationals said they are continuously tracking co-passengers of the infected couple.

GSG