The Bureau of Customs is on full alert against the entry of imported products that may be infected with the novel coronavirus.
Customs authorities are closely coordinating with the Health and Agriculture departments to thoroughly inspect food items, animals, farm products, and used clothing imported from coronavirus-hit countries, according to Customs Assistant Commissioner Vincent Maronilla.
The alert status was issued by Customs chief Rey Leonardo Guerrero last Monday to help ensure public safety and health amid concerns about the coronavirus spreading in some countries, Maronilla said.
“The intelligence and enforcement group of the Bureau of Customs are now on full alert as per order of the commissioner guarding against all items not just food items by which we coordinate with the Department of Health and Department of Agriculture that might be a carrier or a source of carrying these diseases other than actual humans,” Maronilla said.
Customs personnel were also directed “to be in complete gear when conducting initial examination for items coming from counties that have been identified to have positive results in terms of infection of this virus,” he said.
Maronilla said the Customs bureau prohibits the importation of food products without any corresponding license or permit from the Food and Drug Administration or the DA.
He said it is up to the Agriculture department to decide if a ban will be imposed on certain products imported from coronavirus-affected nations.
“Nakikipagtulungan kami very closely with the Department of Agriculture in treating food products coming in from these countries,” he said. “We’re leaving it to the DA if they will impose a ban or some stricter measure,” he said.
Maronilla said Customs, Immigration, and Quarantine officers are also deployed to board and inspect aircraft and ships coming in the country. Such vessels usually carry food items and other bulk goods into the country that must undergo a thorough inspection, he said.
Meanwhile, health experts have said that there is still no scientific evidence that can prove that the 2019 novel coronavirus can be transmitted before its symptoms may appear.
Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said there is no clear evidence to show that such may happen “up to this point,” citing the World Health Organization.
“There has been some talks of possibly spreading the virus by an individual who has not manifested any signs or symptoms, but there has been no evidence to back it up,” said Duque.
Duque said that the incubation period can range from 10 to 14 days.
This was affirmed by WHO Country Representative to the Philippines Dr. Rabindra Abeyasinghe, saying that such reports have not yet been confirmed by the organization. “We are hearing some reports from China that people could transmit the disease during the incubation phase – this has not been confirmed by WHO,” said Abeyasinghe. (Genalyn Kabiling and Analou de Vera)