Familiaran: Recently returned

OFWs should coordinate accordingly
By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

Bacolod City Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran, who chairs the recently-created Bacolod City Inter-Agency Task Force Against the Novel Coronavirus, yesterday confirmed there are currently three “persons under investigation” for the 2019 novel coronavirus (nCoV) in Bacolod City.
He identified the patients in question as a 58-year-old Canadian who arrived from Taiwan, a 12-year-old Filipino minor who traveled from Macau and Hong Kong, and a 58-year-old overseas Filipino worker (OFW) who recently arrived from Hong Kong. All three are currently under quarantine at Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital (CLMMRH).
According to reports, the Canadian national initially sought treatment at a private hospital in Bacolod City and was later referred to CLMMRH.
Familiaran urged the public not to panic and advised OFWs who have recently arrived home to coordinate with their local barangay or the City Health Office. He also confirmed that samples from the three patients have been taken and they are awaiting results from the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine, which should be released within the week.
Earlier, Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson confirmed two patients had been placed on quarantine at CLMMRH after exhibiting “flu-like” symptoms. The governor then reiterated earlier statements and called for calm and encouraged the public to continue their normal routine.
He has also emphasized, “There is no confirmed case yet of the virus in the province.”/DGB, WDJ