Bulacan undertakes standard infection control measures

CITY OF MALOLOS, Bulacan, -- All governmentowned hospitals in this province, including infirmaries, have started implementing standard infection control measures to safeguard residents against the threat of 2019 novel coronavirus acute respiratory disease (2019nCoV ARD).

Governor Daniel Fernando said on Saturday that although there is still no reported case of the coronavirus in the province, the provincial government immediately stepped up and mounted activities that will lessen the fear of Bulakenyos regarding the deadly virus.

The activities include massive information dissemination and the activation of the infectious control team in every hospital through the Provincial Health Office-Public Health (PHO-PH).

“An isolation unit and holding area are also placed

in every hospital under the provincial government in case a patient shows possible symptoms of 2019-nCoV ARD,” he said.

Fernando said the rural health units, health centers, and private and public hospitals in the communities are also on the alert mode in case of emergency; while active surveillance in Provincial Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit (PESU) is implemented for patients who will undergo check-up or patients who will be admitted to the hospitals.

Fernando also assured the Bulakenyos that the provincial hospitals are all equipped and ready, and that the province is following the directives of the Department of Health (DOH).

“In case the province reported case of nCov, the provincial government, our provincial hospitals, are ready and we are in line with the DOH’s instructions. As of this day, we have representatives from PHO-PH to teach Bulakenyos the proper hand washing, coughing etiquette, and safety food handling,” he said.

Meanwhile, the PHOPH advised the Bulakenyos to observe the preventive measures, including thorough and regular washing of hands using soap and clean water; using tissue or handkerchief to cover face when coughing or sneezing; avoiding interaction with animals without proper protection; proper cooking of meat before serving; using of facemask in public places; avoiding crowded places and people with symptoms of common colds and cough; and drinking enough water, eating nutritious foods and having enough amount of sleep to strengthen the immunity.

The 2019-nCoV ARD is a strain of virus that originated from Wuhan City, Hubei Province, China that can cause various types of diseases from common cough and cold to more serious complications, such as pneumonia and kidney failure that may lead to death.

The World Health Organization has declared the outbreak of novel coronavirus as public health emergency of international concern’.