8 who came in contact with Philippines’ nCoV cases have cough, colds

Eight out of the over 70 persons tracked down by the Department of Health (DOH) for having been in contact with Chinese couple infected with novel coronavirus are exhibiting coughs and colds, the Department of Health (DOH) said on Monday.

"May nakitaan tayo sa contact tracing, may nagkaroon ng... may senyales, may symptoms ng ubo at sipon at ito ay kasama na sa bilang ng [persons under investigation] na ating nirereport ngayon... Walo," DOH-Epidemiology Bureau director Dr. Chito Avelino said in a press conference in Manila.

On Monday afternoon, the DOH announced that it already recorded 80 persons under investigation (PUIs)—two tested positive for novel coronavirus (the Chinese couple), 30 tested negative, and 48 others are awaiting results.

Sixty-seven PUIs are currently admitted in hospitals across the country.

Avelino said that the DOH was able to trace a total of 74 persons who had been at close range to the Chinese couple infected with the novel coronavirus.

"Sila po ay nabigyan na rin ng nararapat na advise kung anong gagawin nila with regards to home quarantine," Avelino said.

"Gusto po nating linawin na ang home quarantine natin, ito po ay parang isolation lang din sa loob ng bahay. Ibig sabihin wala silang privilege na makihalubilo sa myembro ng kanilang pamilya habang binabantayan po sila sa loob ng 14 days," he added.

Avelino did not mention the exact whereabouts of the said persons.

The Philippines confirmed its first case of novel coronavirus on Thursday. The patient was a female Chinese national from China's Wuhan City—the center of the outbreak.

Two days later, the patient's partner—a 44-year-old man died. He also tested positive for the virus and became the  first fatality outside China. —NB, GMA News