Some personal thoughts on the 2019 novel #coronavirus or 2019-nCoV:
So we now have confirmed cases of a German and a Japanese who contracted 2019-nCoV even without visiting China.
So we now have confirmed cases of a German and a Japanese who contracted 2019-nCoV even without visiting China.
The German was said to have contracted the virus after attending a training by a Chinese colleague who visited the Wuhan region in China and later on turned out to have the virus.
The Japanese meanwhile drove for a group of Chinese tourists from Wuhan.
The Japanese meanwhile drove for a group of Chinese tourists from Wuhan.
These incidents underscore the seriousness of the spread of the 2019-nCoV. Human to human transmission is now clearly established and the virus can be transmitted even by those who showed no symptoms yet. Incubation period is said to be around 14 days.
Which raises several questions about PH govt's response:
1. The Bureau of Quarantine is already conducting health screenings of arriving passengers but how about those who show no symptoms?
1. The Bureau of Quarantine is already conducting health screenings of arriving passengers but how about those who show no symptoms?
2. The Bureau of Immigration has suspended the issuance of visas upon arrival to Chinese tourists but this affects only 5% of incoming Chinese tourists. What about the other 95% of Chinese tourists and the other nationalities who may have also been exposed to the virus?
3. The Department of Health has said there are 27 cases "under investigation" for 2019-nCoV but so far the Philippines is "nCoV-free."
When DOH says the country is "nCoV-free," is this a definite statement or more like "nCoV-free for now" subject to confirmatory tests?
When DOH says the country is "nCoV-free," is this a definite statement or more like "nCoV-free for now" subject to confirmatory tests?
How can we say we are "nCoV-free" when we don't have the facilities to determine presence of 2019-nCoV bec we have to wait for results from Australia? How long will confirmatory tests from AUS take? How long before we can say for certain that those 27 cases do not involve nCoV?
4. Are we taking steps to make public spaces safer by disinfecting handles for instance or distributing the necessary gear? Does the public even know how to wear face masks properly?
And there are so many more questions that need answers. Perhaps the government can start by addressing them one by one.
While I agree it's not helpful to panic and cause hysteria by spreading unfounded second-hand stories, the best way to prevent this is for the government to show it is on top of the situation and that it is ready to handle any emergency, should it arise.
*Note: These are cases in Germany and Japan, not in the Philippines. Another person who didn't go to Wuhan but who contracted 2019-nCoV also recorded in Vietnam.
