Philippines, Hong Kong health officials say no novel coronavirus, step up surveillance
Two Asian countries are taking steps to keep their countries novel coronavirus free after the latest news of cases in the UK and Saudi Arabia in recent weeks.
In the Philippines, Health Secretary Enrique Ona said Friday, “Right now, there has been no reported case in the Philippines.”
In light of the recent cases, the Philippines Department of Health (DOH) issued a directive to all hospitals in the country to report suspected cases of the new coronavirus following the reports out of the UK and the possibility of human-to-human transmission.
The Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) in Muntinlupa City will be performing confirmatory testing.
In addition, the Bureau of Quarantine has been directed to maintain the routine screening of in-bound passengers, regardless of country of origin, in ports of entry, for any signs of illness that may require temporary isolation in a health facility or at home.
In Hong Kong, officials at the Department of Health (DH) are also monitoring the situation in the UK closely.
“In view of the latest development, the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health will seek more information on this case from the WHO and relevant health authorities. The CHP will stay vigilant and continue to work closely with the WHO and overseas health authorities to monitor the latest development of this novel infectious disease,” a DH spokesman said.
Locally, enhanced surveillance and control measures for the disease have been put in place. Starting from today, laboratory surveillance for the novel coronavirus will be further enhanced. For cases of pneumonia with unknown cause, pneumonia cases requiring intensive care, clusters of pneumonia or health-care workers with pneumonia, routine testing for novel coronavirus will be carried out irrespective of travel history.
“The CHP will continue its surveillance mechanism with public and private hospitals, practising doctors and the airport for any suspected cases of severe respiratory disease associated with novel coronavirus,” the spokesman remarked.
“No human infection with this virus has been identified so far in Hong Kong,” the spokesman stressed.
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[…] Philippines, Hong Kong health officials say no novel coronavirus, step up … … practising doctors and the airport for any suspected cases of severe respiratory disease associated with novel coronavirus,” the spokesman remarked. “No human infection with this virus has been identified so far in Hong Kong,” the spokesman stressed. Full News here – Read more on The Global Dispatch […]