Capitol issues nCoV alert in western coastal towns
ALL 14 hospitals of the Pangasinan provincial government had been alerted to watch out for patients suffering from the Novel Coronavirus (nCoV) and to take necessary precautions in dealing with the patients suspected to be infected.
“The Department of Health is very strict. We are fully complying with all DOH’s directives.” Provincial Health Officer Anna De Guzman told Talakayan sa Kapitolyo last Tuesday.
The protocol, she said, requires hospitals to examine patients complaining of coughs, colds and flu-like symptoms in the emergency rooms thoroughly and by getting their history of travels to find out if they have recently visited China and other countries already afflicted by nCov.
Meanwhile, she said PHO is focusing on health of fishermen in Infanta, Dasol and are initially being closely monitored by municipal health officers even after cities in China are on lockdown.
“We anticipate that some Chinese fishermen will still sail in the West Philippine Sea, where they may encounter fishermen from the coastal areas of Western Pangasinan, so we asked health officials there to orient the fishermen on how to avoid possible acquisition of the virus,” she pointed out.
De Guzman added that the provincial government is also closely monitoring the Dasol Community Hospital, Bolinao Community Hospital, and Western Pangasinan District Hospital that serve the coastal towns.
At the same time, De Guzman was alerted over the alleged practice of crewmen of foreign vessels delivering coal to the Sual Coal-fired Power Plant of leaving their ships and head to shore to hop from one bar or recreation houses to another while their vessels unload their load of coal, which usually takes five days.
PHO urges communities to promote proper hand washing and coughing manners to protect oneself from the virus.
When coughing, a person should cover his mouth with a handkerchief or towel, but if a person used his or her hand to cover his or her mouth while coughing, hand washing is again advised, she said. (Leonardo Micua/ Helen Martin)
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