Three Chinese children under observation in Aklan hospital

Three Chinese nationals—all children aged 6 and under—are currently under observation in a provincial hospital in Aklan, for possible exposure to the novel coronavirus (n-Cov).

According to JP Soriano's report on GMA's "24 Oras Weekend" on Sunday, one of the children is a six-year-old girl from Wuhan, China who arrived in the Philippines last week.

The child did not exhibit any flu-like symptoms when she underwent thermal scanning at the airport, but developed cough and fever when she arrived in Boracay on Thursday.

"Ngayon, nandito po [siya] kasi mayroon siyang lagnat tapos sore throat, at ngayon tini-treat siya as may bacterial infection," Dr. Cornelio Cuachon Jr., Provincial Health Office 1, said in the report.

The other two children are sisters aged 3 and 5 from Shanghai who were also brought to the hospital straight from the airport for observation.

Swab samples have been collected from the patients for 2019-nCoV confirmatory testing.

"Worst-case scenario na it turns out to be positive, we'll have to do contact tracing. So 'yung mga kasabay sa eroplano, four persons in front, sa side, at tsaka backward," said Cuachon.

Latest reports indicate that at least 56 individuals across China have been killed by the novel coronavirus.

For its part, the Philippines has suspended all direct incoming flights from Wuhan following the outbreak.

The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) also said almost 500 tourists in Kalibo, Aklan will be flown back to China. — Jon Viktor D. Cabuenas/BM, GMA News