By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

Bacolod City Mayor Evelio Leonardia said he is considering the creation of a task force on the new coronavirus (CoV) strain, which originated in China and, as of press time, has reportedly killed 26 with at least 830 recorded cases.
“If it is necessary, we can easily form one,” the mayor said.
He also affirmed the city is not affected by the virus and, pointed out, with the upcoming Bacolaodiat Festival, there are visitors expected from China but they have yet to arrive.
Meanwhile, the Department of Health-Western Visayas (DOH-6) confirmed Bacolod City has nothing to be alarmed over in relation to CoV.
Earlier this week, the Sangguniang Panlungsod passed a resolution calling on the City Health Office and City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office to conduct necessary assessments and take appropriate precautions in light of the suspected CoV case in Cebu City.
DOH referred to the case in Cebu City as a “non-specific pancoronavirus,” which means they have yet to determine which CoV strain the patient contracted.
CoV is described as a large family of viruses with some causing less-severe disease, such as the common cold, and others more severe disease, such as Middle East respiratory syndrome, or MERS; and severe acute respiratory syndrome, or SARS./DGB, WDJ