By Bohol Island News Staff, J. Jala in Cebu | 01:48 PM January 24, 2020
A total of 172 passengers from mainland China arrived in Bohol airport, Friday morning.
Chinese tourists arrived at 7:45 a.m. via Pan Pacific Airlines flight from Chengdu City, China.
According to Matthew James Sepe, Bohol Panglao International Airport quarantine nurse, all 172 passengers aboard Pan Pacific Airlines passed the health screening as no one exhibited signs of being infected with the novel coronavirus.
“They are all negative. There is no one who had a fever,” he said.
He added no one was also held by the Bureau of Quarantine.
Currently, there are two flights from Chengdu to Bohol: via Royal Air Charter and Pan Pacific Airline every Monday and Friday, respectively.
Chinese nationals are the number one tourists in Bohol province.
Two Chinese nationals who were in Bohol were suspected of having coronavirus after they manifested symptoms.
However, the Department of Health (DOH)-Regional Office said, as of now, Central Visayas still has no confirmed case of the 2019 nCoV.
DOH- Central Visayas Center for Health Development reminded the public to protect themselves against respiratory tract infections by maintaining good health through proper rest, diet, proper handwashing and coughing etiquette.
Since transmission is via droplet, surgical masks can protect, however, it is not recommended for extended use.
Avoiding large crowds and self-isolation and early consult when sick are recommended to protect those close to you and the community.
Health officials earlier cleared from the illness 3 Chinese tourists with influenza-like symptoms who arrived in Kalibo. A flight attendant also placed herself in “self-quarantine” after exhibiting symptoms of coronavirus.
China has locked down Wuhan, home to 11 million people, following the outbreak of the new strain of virus which has so far claimed at least 18 lives since its emergence last month.
The illness has been reported in Beijing, Shanghai, and Hong Kong and reached other countries like Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, and the US.