Tourists lament treatment at Kalibo airport amid nCoV scare

Some tourists lamented how they were seemingly avoided by Filipinos upon their arrival at the Kalibo International Airport amid the 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) scare.

The Kalibo International Airport usually welcomes throngs of Chinese tourists traveling to Boracay Island during peak seasons.

Boracay health officers have been on heightened alert in a bid to prevent a 2019-nCoV outbreak in the Philippines.

Some tourists said the 2019-nCoV scare has made them feel discriminated against.

“I feel judged by my look or appearance. They may think I have coronavirus,” Korean tourist Seon Hong said in a 24 Oras report by JP Soriano on Monday.

“You don’t need to be scared ‘cause they want to protect people and protect themselves. You don’t need to be so far away from them, you just be normal,” a Taiwanese tourist added.

Three out of the 11 cases under investigation by the Department of Health for possible 2019-nCoV infection are at the Aklan Provincial Hospital.

"Although wala na silang lagnat but still they have to be observed if there is progression of respiratory symptoms like cough and cold,” Provincial Health Officer Dr. Cornelio Cuachon Jr. explained.

“But they were started on antimicrobial or antibiotic treatment, ibig sabihin they were treated as bacterial infection, not viral infection." —Julia Mari Ornedo/LDF, GMA News