By J. Jala | 12:40 AM February 07, 2020
Another nurse, who came in contact with the 60-year-old Chinese woman who tested positive of the 2019-novel coronavirus acute respiratory disease (2019-nCoV ARD), is now being isolated in a medical facility in Bohol province.
The 21-year-old female nurse exhibited flu-like symptoms, according to Dr. Cesar Tomas Lopez, the designated spokesman of the anti-nCoV technical working group (TWG) of the Bohol Provincial Government.
This makes her the fifth person placed in isolation in the province.
Two Americans, a 31-year-old Chinese national and one Boholana nurse were already isolated.
The two Americans from New York reportedly travelled to Beijing in China. After spending days in Beijing, they proceeded to Manila and Coron, Palawan, then Bohol.
They were isolated now at the Gov. Celestino Gallares Memorial Hospital, an identified Department of Health (DOH) medical facility to cater to the isolated patients.
Swab samples were taken and submitted to the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) for 2019-nCoV ARD strain testing.
The 31-year-old Chinese national tested negative but subjected to confirmatory test at RITM.
Lopez assured the public that Bohol is still on high alert and is closely monitoring all airports and seaports in response to the coronavirus outbreak.
Meanwhile, the said data provided by the Lopez is yet to be confirmed by DOH Center for Health Development in Central Visayas (DOH-CHD 7).
In an interview with Dr. Jaime Bernadas, regional director of DOH-CHD 7, in Cebu City, he only confirmed of one recorded person under investigation (PUI) in Bohol, as of 2p.m. on Thursday, (Feb. 6, 2020).
Bernadas earlier explained that in order for a person to be considered a PUI, he/she must have a history of travel in China, Hong Kong and Macau and exhibited the flu-like symptoms.
However, those who are asymptomatic and have a history of travel in China, Hong Kong and Macau are considered person under monitoring (PUMs).
Most of them, like the Filipinos from Hong Kong who arrived in Mactan Cebu International Airport (MCIA) since Sunday, were identified as PUMs and must undergo a 14-day quarantine. (With reports from Ella Montalban)