No need yet for NBI help in contact tracing for nCoV – Guevarra

MANILA, Philippines – The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) is ready to help in contact tracing individuals who interacted with the two Chinese nationals who were infected with the novel coronavirus-acute respiratory disease or the 2019-nCoV, Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said Tuesday.

But for now, Guevarra said the Department of Health (DOH) remains on top of the situation.

“The DOH says they can still handle the contact tracing but the NBI will be on standby to support,” said Guevarra.

He added that the NBI, with its 17 regional offices and 25 district offices around the country, would be useful in locating the whereabouts of these individuals.

“The NBI is not being called to action yet,” Guevarra said.

The government is currently in the process of tracing the people that the two Chinese nationals came in contact with since the arrived in the country from Hong Kong last Jan. 21. The couple arrived in Cebu and traveled to Dumaguete before proceeding to Manila.

Five days later, they were admitted to the San Lazaro Hospital after experiencing fever, cough, and sore throat and later tested positive for 2019-nCoV ARD. The 38-year-old female was the country’s first 2019-nCoV case. Her 44-year-old male companion was the second case. He died of pneumonia complications resulting from the 2019-nCoV.

During last Monday’s meeting of the Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases in Malacanang, the DOJ Chief said there was no order for the NBI to step in and render assistance to the government’s effort against the spread of the virus.

Even the Bureau of Immigration (BI) that has been at the frontlines to implement the travel ban of Filipinos to Mainland China, Hong Kong, and Macau; and to prevent foreigners from Mainland China, Hong Kong, and Macau to enter the Philippines, was not given additional tasking.

Guevarra added, “No further instructions (were given) to the BI except to implement the travel ban strictly until further orders.”