Medialdea bared details of Duterte directive to contain nCoV –Panelo

Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea on Sunday disclosed the details of President Rodrigo Duterte's directive to contain the spread of the novel coronavirus-acute respiratory disease (2019-nCoV ARD) in the Philippines,  Palace spokesman Salvador Panelo said.

According to Panelo, President Duterte issued through ES Medialdea the details and guidelines to be followed by concerned government agencies on the containment, neutralization, and prevention of the spread of the 2019-nCoV ARD.

“On 31 January 2020, immediately after the World Health Organization declared global emergency, the Inter-agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases approved and recommended the adoption of guidelines for the management of the 2019-nCoV ARD situation," he said.

Details of the recommended guidelines

Duterte Directive on NCoV Containment by GMA News Online on Scribd

Also, Panelo said, the President will be presiding the next meeting of the Task Force on Monday and to be attended by other concerned agencies.

Accordingly, all heads of departments, agencies, offices and instrumentalities of the government, GOCCs, GFIs, SUCs and LGUs are hereby directed to adopt, coordinate and implement the said guidelines, and such other guidelines which the Task Force may subsequently issue on the matter, consistent with the respective agency mandates and relevant laws, rules and regulations, until the threat is over.

Also, Panelo said, the Armed Forces of the Philippines, the Philippine National Police, and law enforcement agencies are all on standby and have been directed to give the necessary assistance to ensure the implementation of this directive to ensure the safety and well-being of everyone.

Moreover, the Task Force was also given the authority, if necessary, to ban the entry of travelers from other areas with confirmed widespread 2019-nCOV ARD.

"For clarity the ban is on the person of any nationality except that of Filipinos particularly specified above, coming directly from the places above-mentioned and arriving in the Philippines, and not of any flight," Panelo said.

"We assure the the Filipino people that the directives issued by the President as well as the protocols being implemented as well as succeeding ones are all geared for the safety of our countrymen and will last until the danger of the dreaded disease has ceased," he added. —LBG, GMA News