UE: Student negative for coronavirus

MANILA, Philippines — After reports that a Grade 12 student of the University of the East (UE) Manila was under observation for showing symptoms of the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) after traveling to Hong Kong last month, the school administration announced that the student had tested negative.

In a statement on Sunday, UE president and chief academic officer Ester Garcia said the patient was taken to UE Ramon Magsaysay Memorial Medical Center (UERMMMC) for observation.

A mandatory test conducted by the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine came up negative.

“The student instead appears to have had an upper respiratory tract infection and allergic rhinitis, which are fairly common and manageable conditions,” Garcia said.

She added that the patient was awaiting discharge from UERMMMC and would return to school this week upon the advice of the Department of Health.

Last Friday, the UE administration briefed the student’s classmates about the case and advised them to practice self-monitoring.

Garcia said that the school implemented proper disinfection procedures and a general room cleanup, while the section’s classes for Feb. 7 were suspended.

“We are hopeful that the virus [will] be reduced to insignificance, even as we will continue to promote vigilance and the right information and advisories as they become available, and we shall continually implement safety precautions within our campuses for as long as necessary,” she added.