12 with recent travel to China on self-quarantine

KIDAPAWAN CITY (MindaNews) — In its efforts to protect residents from the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV), the City Health Office (CHO) is monitoring 12 persons who have been asked to go on a 14-day self-quarantine because of their recent travel to China, even as none of them has manifested flu-like symptoms.

Lawyer Jose Paolo Evangelista, chief of the City Information Office (CIO), said the CHO started monitoring these residents since last week.

Norianne Raquel, head of the City Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit (CESU) told reporters they assigned one health worker to each PUM who then files reports on a daily basis. The health personnel wear face mask and other protective gear

whenever they engage the PUMs, she said.

The CESU did not name the PUMs and their areas of residence to prevent panic in the neighborhood. But some PUMs reportedly felt ostracized when their neighbors learned they were strictly being monitored by the health office.

Evangelista, however, assured residents they have nothing to worry about as the PUMs do not have cough, fever, body malaise, and sore throat and other manifestations of the nCoV.

On Sunday, the Department of Health (DoH) in Soccsksargen region reported its first patient-under-investigation for nCoV.

DoH-12 health education and promotions officer Arjohn Gangoso said the PUI was placed in an isolation facility in one of the hospitals in the region and is strictly being monitored by health personnel.