By ARGYLL GEDUCOS
President Duterte yesterday issued a travel ban on Chinese tourists coming from Hubei province in China and other places in the country affected by the deadly 2019 novel coronavirus.
Malacañang made the announcement the morning after the Department of Health confirmed the first case of the deadly virus in the country.
Presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo said Duterte issued the travel ban order upon the recommendation of Health Secretary Francisco Duque III and his long-time aide Sen. Bong Go.
“The President has issued a travel ban to Chinese nationals coming from the Hubei province of China where the nCoV originated, as well in other places in China where there is a spread of the disease,” he said. “It will last until the threat is over given that that the safety of our countrymen is foremost in the President’s mind,” he added.
Panelo confirmed that the coverage of the travel ban will be updated once the Chinese government or the World Health Organization identifies the other areas where there are confirmed cases of the virus.
“Sa ngayon sa Hubei. ‘Yun pa lang ang alam natin, eh. Wala pang sinasabi,” he said. “Kung meron silang sinabi na, halimbawa sinabi nila na sa Shanghai meron, ‘di hindi na rin natin tatanggapin galing sa Shanghai,” he added.
Panelo said Duterte likewise instructed the DoH to commence the protocols it has prepared to prevent the spread of the mysterious disease.
“This raises a serious concern by the administration on the health and safety of our countrymen. The DoH has been instructed by the President to commence the protocols it has prepared for such an eventuality to contain the disease and neutralize its transmission and spread,” he said.
Duterte had earlier said he was not keen on limiting the entry of Chinese nationals to the Philippines, saying it would not be fair as other countries also have confirmed cases of the virus.
The President’s remarks earned the ire of netizens especially after the DoH confirmed the first case of the virus in the country, saying it’s now time for the government to ban the entry of Chinese nationals to the Philippines.
GLOBAL EMERGENCY
The South China Morning Post reported that nCoV infections have been confirmed in all 31 regions of China, with Tibet being the last to report a case.
The number of infections was reported to be already surpassing the number of people infected by Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome two decades ago.
The WHO has also declared the 2019-nCoV a global emergency as the outbreak continues to spread outside China.
WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the main reason for the declaration was not because of what is happening in China but what is happening in other countries.
The new 2019-nCoV has killed 213 people and infected more than 9,700 in at least 19 other countries including the Philippines.
According to the DoH, the Chinese woman afflicted with the dreadful illness came from Wuhan, flew to Hong Kong, then to Cebu, and then to Dumaguete City before finally arriving in Manila. The patient is currently confined at the San Lazaro Hospital in Manila.
Panelo, citing Duque, said the patient was being treated and isolated and there was no way that she would transmit the disease to another person.
“The hospital personnel are protectively dressed and their mouths and noses covered with surgical masks plus their hands covered with gloves,” he said.
“The DoH assures us that every measure is being undertaken to contain the spread of the dreadful virus as well as monitoring and placing in quarantine those showing of symptoms of having nCoV,” he added.
TIPS VS CORONA VIRUS
The Palace official, meanwhile, reminded Filipinos to follow the advice of the DoH to observe personal hygiene as a preventive measure.
The DoH advised the public about hand hygiene, proper coughing etiquette, consuming enough water, cooking food thoroughly, and immediate consultation when experiencing the symptoms of the virus.