Guv orders full alert status on coronavirus

By Dolly Yasa

BACOLOD City – Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson on Thursday ordered the Provincial Health Office to be on alert for coronavirus cases in the province.

Lacson told reporters that PHO head Dr. Ernell Tumimbang has alerted all district hospitals in the province to be on the lookout for possible cases in their respective areas.

In his briefing, Lacson said Tumimbang instructed district hospitals to be aware of what is happening.

“For now we don’t have suspected cases of coronavirus,” he added.

Lacson also said that what is important is for patients with flu-like symptoms to check their travel history in the last two weeks.

“If he or she has been to Wuhan, China, that should be a red flag,” he added.

Lacson also ordered the PHO to heighten its monitoring to make sure that “we are ready to address the situation if it presents itself to us.”

He said Tumimbang already has a system in place if there is a confirmed case of coronavirus like moving the patient to Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Hospital.

Earlier, Bacolod City Mayor Evelio Leonardia ordered the City Health Office (CHO) to closely monitor and intensify its surveillance against the new coronavirus which has already been reported in China, South Korean, Japan, and Thailand.

Leonardia said the CHO should be taking measures to prevent the virus from reaching the city.