DOH urges public to contact LGUs for assistance in responding to unconscious persons

The public should not hesitate to ask for assistance from their local government units should they encounter unconscious persons amid the novel coronavirus threat, the spokesperson for the Health Department said Wednesday.

"Sa community, ang LGU lagi ang first responder. Maaaring tawagan ng barangay ang munisipyo o city hall for assistance," Health Undersecretary Eric Domingo said in a text message to GMA News Online.

If an unconscious person is suspected to be infected, first aid should be left to the hands of trained health workers.

"Kung nangangamba sila at may hinala, itawag na lang sa health worker nila para trained," Domingo said.

Last weekend, a foreigner collapsed at a sidewalk in Manila. A concerned bystander called for help but several hospitals and rescue groups did not repond.

The man later on turned out to be a drunk Korean, according to the police.

In Legazpi City, a local pretended to have a seizure in front of a mall entrance to play a prank amid the outbreak. He apologized after his stunt drew criticisms on social media.

At a press conference on Monday, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said unconscious patients who would be responded to will have to undergo an assessment to be conducted by health workers before he or she can be considered a person under investigation (PUI).

"Dahil unconscious, aantayin mo na manumbalik ang kaniyang malay-tao. At the usual, mag-iinterview ka at 'yung ating assessment tool, 'yun ang paiiralin natin, 'yun ang gagamitin natin pero titingnan mo na muna kung may symptoms," he said.

The DOH already released a memorandum directing all licensed Level 2 and Level 3 hospitals to attend to all suspected nCoV patients seeking consultation or treatment.

The medical facilities were also advised to strengthen their infection prevention and control measures to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus.

The Philippines has two confirmed cases of novel coronavirus—one of whom died while admitted at San Lazaro Hospital in Manila.

Ninety other persons under investigation are currently confined at hospitals across the country.

In China, the death toll reached almost 500 while 23,000 others have been infected. — RSJ, GMA News