Robredo: Suspension of flights in affected countries may be needed to contain nCoV

Vice President Leni Robredo. INQUIRER.net file photo / Noy Morcoso

MANILA, Philippines – Vice President Leni Robredo has urged the government to exhaust all possible measures to avoid the spread of the 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV), saying that flights from affected countries may even be suspended if necessary.

Robredo on Wednesday said that instead of designating an airport-to-airport system where a certain airport serves as a point of entry for people coming from places with nCoV, the government should consider placing more precautionary equipment.

“Ako, mas mabuti sanang i-aspire iyong hindi na kailangang mag-A2A [airport-to-airport]. Kailangan sigurong i-aspire na bago pa man lumipad dito, iyong necessary precautions gagawin na doon sa dapat panggalingan,” the Vice President, who was in Bukidnon for her anti-poverty program, told reporters.

(For me, it is better to aspire not to implement A2A [airport-to-airport]. Maybe it is better to aspire measures that even before the flight into the country, necessary precautions should already be done on the point of origin.)

“Kung kinakailangan mag-suspend muna ng flights, mag-suspend muna ng flights. Kung kailangan na magdagdag ng equipment sa mga airports saka sa ports natin, gawin na iyon,” she added.

(If it is needed to suspend flights, we should suspend flights. If it is needed to put additional equipment in airports and ports, then we should do it.)

According to Robredo, the A2A system is one remedy but at the same time would also be costly.

“Pero, ‘yong airport-to-airport, puwede siyang remedy, pero hindi siya… parang hindi siya nangangailangan na ganoon all the time, kasi it will involve a lot of money, na puwede namang maiwasan iyong gastos,” she added.

(Airport-to-airport can be done as remedy but it … it is not needed all the time because it involves a lot of money, we can avoid spending too much.)

Entry points within the country are now under heavy scrutiny due to the spread of the 2019-nCoV in mainland China.  The virus, which originated in Wuhan, has forced city officials to shut down the city’s outbound trips and flights.

As of now, more than 6,000 individuals have been affected by the virus, while 132 have died due to the ailment.  Fears that the 2019-nCoV has reached the country have been circulating in social media, but the Department of Health (DOH) assured that there is no reported case as of now, although 27 persons are being monitored.

Earlier, a patient being investigated by DOH for possible coronavirus infection died of pneumonia, but Health Secretary Francisco Duque said that the dead patient also tested positive for HIV/AIDS.

Edited by JPV