Five patients under investigation have been discharged

Department of Health (DOH) Secretary Francisco Duque III yesterday confirmed the first novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) case in the Philippines. He said the patient is of Chinese descent and is confined to a hospital.
“The confirmed case arrived in the Philippines from Wuhan, China via Hong Kong last January 21,” the cabinet secretary stated during a press briefing. “We are working closely with the hospital where the patient is admitted and have activated the incident command system of the said hospital for appropriate management specifically on infection control, case management, and containment.”
He said the patient was admitted to a hospital after exhibiting a cough. Results from the Victorian Infectious Disease Reference Laboratory in Melbourne, Australia then confirmed the nCoV infection.
According to the most recent data from DOH, there are currently 29 individuals under investigation for nCoV, including three in the Western Visayas. The government agency notes, 23 are currently admitted to hospitals, one has died, while the remaining five have been discharged and are under “strict monitoring.”
Meanwhile, Duque said a “high-level” meeting of the Interagency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases is set to take place today./WDJ