The country has no existing positive case of the new coronavirus – also known as Covid-19 – amid intensified government efforts to contain if not stop the global health menace, Malacañang said yesterday.
According to presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo, the government’s main concern is to ensure the safety and protection of Filipinos amid the latest health emergency.
“The Office of the President wishes to emphasize that the Philippines has currently no existing positive case of novel coronavirus amid some news reports highlighting confirmed cases in the country,” he said.
“On the earlier three reported, one had already expired and the two had already recovered and been discharged. We hope this would enlighten the public,” he added.
Panelo assured the public that the government has put in place “all proper steps and approaches are in place to contain, if not, to totally defeat this global health menace.”
“All the protocols so far undertaken to contain the spread of the virus, as well as other measures to be made in relation thereto as the circumstances require, are anchored solely on the safety and security of the health of our countrymen,” he said.
As of Thursday, the Health department monitored 441 patients for suspected coronavirus infection, including 230 admitted in hospitals and 206 discharged after testing negative for the virus. The toll includes the three patients who yielded positive results. (Genalyn Kabiling)