Health authorities locate nCoV patient’s close contacts in Dumaguete

Authorities have located some of the individuals who came in contact with the first confirmed novel coronavirus case in the Philippines when she visited Dumaguete.

The Department of Health on Thursday said that a 38-year-old Chinese woman from Wuhan, China tested positive for the virus.

She had visited Cebu and Dumaguete prior to being quarantined.

According to a report by James Agustin on "24 Oras", she and her boyfriend checked-in at two hotels and a resort during their four days in Dumaguete,

As authorities do not have an estimate on the number of individuals she came in contact with, they are investigating the staff members of the hotels and resorts she went to.

They are also determining the condition of the tricycle driver and the van which the couple used.

Though the Provincial Health Office assured that the did not display symptoms of the virus, they said that 14 days must pass before they can be cleared.

"It will depend on the evaluation if they will be confined at home. But if they have signs and symptoms then they will be advised, siguro, to be admitted in the hospital for further observation," DOH-Negros Oriental Doctor Socrates Villamor said.

Due to this, the Provincial Government recommended the house arrest or self-quarantine of these individuals to prevent the spread of the virus.

Prior to visiting Dumaguete, the woman had stayed at an airport in Cebu for three hours.

The Bureau of Quarantine said they have identified some passengers who rode with the woman from Hong Kong to Cebu.

"We have identified those who are seated and then we're just rummaging in front of Immigration for the arrival cards so that we may have to track their address, and you know, do the necessary protocol," Dr. Terrence Anthony Bermejo, of the Bureau of Quarantine-7, said.

Meanwhile, contact tracing for passengers who rode with the woman in flights going to Dumaguete and Manila are still on-going.

According to the DOH, they will implement various protocols for those who came in contact with the woman.

"If they are found to be asymptomatic, they will just be advised to stay at home or stay in their hotels at least for 14 days," DOH-7 Regional Director Dr. Jaime Bernadas said.

"Now, if they have displayed some symptoms they will be referred to a facility, workup for some diagnostic tests, and then they are manifesting signs and symptoms of respiratory disease, they would be referred to a hospital wherein they could be admitted and isolated," he added.

The Cebu Provincial Government is also looking to passenger from China who will land at the Mactan Cebu International Airport.

According to officials, 15 to 18 flights from China arrive at the airport per day.

"Upon arrival, the tourist or the visitor, the passenger, will be given the option whether or not he would subject himself to the quarantine, which would be for 14 days, in a secure facility or he can have the option to go back," Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia said.

This may be implemented on Sunday, next week.

In Central Visayas, there are four Chinese persons under investigation.

Though their laboratory tests have yet to arrive, DOH-7 assured that their conditions are stable. —Joahna Lei Casilao/NB, GMA News