PNP ordered to locate persons who could be infected by novel coronavirus

Philippine National Police chief Police General Archie Francisco Gamboa has ordered all police regional offices to coordinate with regional health offices to locate persons who could be infected by the novel coronavirus.

This developed as a Chinese child from Wuhan province tested positive for a coronavirus in Cebu earlier this week. However, the patient has yet to test positive for the new coronavirus that has reportedly killed over 400 in China.

"All regional directors of police regional offices have been ordered to coordinate with their respective counterpart regional health offices to help mitigate the possible effects and assist in case order is given to locate other persons identified by DOH (Department of Health) who possibly manifest flu-like symptoms and fit the description of the new virus," PNP spokesman Police Brigadier General Bernard Banac said in a statement.

Banac said Gamboa also ordered the PNP Health Service to coordinate with the DOH as regards the probe on the case of the five-year-old Chinese boy who arrived in Cebu from Wuhan, China.

The boy exhibited flu-like symptoms, according to the DOH. The results of the test conducted to determine the specific strain of coronavirus that affected the boy is yet to be released.

Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said there was no travel restriction for Chinese despite the coronavirus threat.

The virus was first detected in Wuhan City, Hubei Province of China last December. —NB, GMA News