Cebu Pacific, AirAsia: No direct Philippines-Wuhan flights

Budget carriers Cebu Pacific and AirAsia Philippines on Saturday said they do not operate direct Philippine flights to and from Wuhan, China — the city believed to be where the 2019 novel coronavirus originated.

"Wala naman po kaming flights between the Philippines and Wuhan, China," Cebu Pacific spokesperson Charo Lagamon said in an interview on Dobol sa News TV aired on GMA News TV.

In a separate interview on Dobol B sa News TV, AirAsia communications head David de Castro said the airline also has no direct flights from the Philippines to Wuhan and vice versa.

Nevertheless, the airlines are both taking necessary measures in light of health concerns arising from the threat of the virus.

"May protocol po ang Cebu Pacific sa oras na may pasahero kami na may sintomas ng virus," Lagamon said, adding that a passenger observed to be sick will be isolated from other travelers inside the plane.

Likewise, de Castro said, "We are doing every necessary precautions para makapaghanda at mapigilan ang virus na ito."

The Bureau of Quarantine and the World Health Organization (WHO) advised air passengers to practice the following measures:

• Wash hands thoroughly with soap and water or alcohol-based hand rub
• Cover mouth with tissue when coughing/sneezing
• Avoid close contact with anyone with colds or flu-like symptoms
• Thoroughly cook eggs and meat
• Avoid unprotected contact with wild or farm animals
• Drink plenty of water
• Wear a face mask

China said the virus has killed 41 people and infected more than 1,300 people globally. 

The total number of confirmed cases in China now stands at 1,287, the National Health Commission said in a statement on Saturday.

The vast majority of the cases and all of the confirmed deaths to date have been in China, but the virus has also been detected in Thailand, Vietnam, Singapore, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Nepal, France and the United States. —Ted Cordero/KG, GMA News