Senate opens probe on novel coronavirus outbreak
MANILA, Philippines— The Senate on Tuesday opened its inquiry on the 2019 novel coronavirus (nCoV) with key healthcare professionals and Cabinet members in attendance.
The nCoV outbreak has so far claimed 425 lives, and infected over 20,000 individuals. Only two of the deaths were reported outside mainland China – in the Philippines and Hong Kong.
Among the Cabinet officials present in the Senate Committee on Health inquiry are Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III, Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr, and Communications Secretary Martin Andanar.
Also in attendance are Education Secretary Leonor Briones , Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade, Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat, Social Welfare Secretary Rolando Bautista, Trade and Industry Secretary Ramon Lopez, Finance Secretary Sonny Dominguez, and National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Secretary Ernesto Pernia.
Dr. Rabinda Abeyasinghe, the World Health Organization’s representative to the Philippines, was also in attendance.
A 44- year -old Chinese man from Wuhan, China died in the Philippines over the weekend due to the novel coronavirus.
This was the first reported death outside China since the virus was first reported in Wuhan, China in December last year.
GSG
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