Thread by @ANCALERTS

Senate Committee on Health set to begin hearing on Philippines’ preparedness vs 2019 novel #coronavirus. At least a dozen Cabinet secretaries expected to attend the inquiry chaired by President Rodrigo Duterte’s former aide Sen. Bong Go. #nCoV | via @_katrinadomingo

@_katrinadomingo Sen. Bong Go: Despite criticisms, the President believes that this govt acted swiftly and has made timely and informed decisions to protect our country. #coronavirus

@_katrinadomingo Go: We cannot please everybody. The WHO did not declare an outbreak immediately; and did not even recommend a travel ban. #coronavirus

@_katrinadomingo Senate Health Committee chair Bong Go tells Health Sec. Duque in jest: Sec. Duque, tone down ka po sa mga health announcement kasi madami po natatakot sa boses ninyo. | via @_katrinadomingo #nCoV #coronavirus

@_katrinadomingo Sen. Nancy Binay: Ang kailangan natin ngayon ay re-assuring voice that is able to get itself heard above all the noise and conflicting opinions. #coronavirus

@_katrinadomingo Binay: Aaminin ko bilang isang ina, nangangamba ako. What we are facing is something new. We do not know how contagious #coronavirus would be.

@_katrinadomingo Binay: Ang pakiramdam ng marami, naghahabol tayo [government]. #coronavirus

@_katrinadomingo Sen. Joel Villanueva: We are also expect our friends from DOLE to urge the private sector to adopt telecommuting for workers whose tasks can be done remotely to minimize possible spread of the disease. #coronavirus

@_katrinadomingo Villanueva: We also expect our friends from DOLE to urge the private sector to adopt telecommuting for workers whose tasks can be done remotely to minimize possible spread of the disease. #coronavirus

@_katrinadomingo Sen. Risa Hontiveros: This boils down to one question: handa na ba tayo? #coronavirus

@_katrinadomingo Hontiveros: We don't want our countrymen to panic that's why we need to assure them. And answer the most fundamental question: Are we prepare for the worst? #coronavirus

@_katrinadomingo WHO: The numbers [#coronavirus cases] this morning have now risen to 20,438.

@_katrinadomingo WHO: The WHO has classified the risk within China as "very high"; and regionally and globally as "high." #coronavirus

@_katrinadomingo WHO: Corona viruses are usually associated with meat. #coronavirus

@_katrinadomingo WHO: We need to be rational about the use of masks. Factually, it shows that non-symptomatic people wearing masks gives them a false sense of confidence and puts them at greater risk because they tend to was hands less. #coronavirus #nCoV

@_katrinadomingo WHO: Just because you wear a mask doesn't mean you can neglect keeping your hands clean. #nCoV #coronavirus

@_katrinadomingo WHO: We don't see a benefit of mask to be used by the general public.

It could be preferable to reserve those masks for high-risk individuals including health workers. #coronavirus

@_katrinadomingo WHO: We recommend that countries prepare for containment by strengthening surveillance, early detection. #coronavirus #nCoV

@_katrinadomingo DOH Sec. Duque: In more severe cases, the infection can cause pneumonia. #coronavirus

@_katrinadomingo Duque: Because #nCoV is a new strain, there is no vaccine against it yet except supportive care. #coronavirus

@_katrinadomingo Duque: The fatality rate of #nCoV is much less than SARS and MERS-CoV but it is more easily transmissible. #coronavirus

@_katrinadomingo Finance Sec. Dominguez: 2019 Novel #Coronavirus impact on the economy will most likely be centered on the tourism sector.

@_katrinadomingo Duque: Ang ating pinaka-available na info ay #coronavirus can survive and stay for as long as 10 hours on inanimate objects like keyboards, tables, and fomites.

@_katrinadomingo Duque: There are info coming our way that the #coronavirus can be difficult to inactivate when the climate or temperature is low and humidity is low, kapag tuyo at malamig.

@_katrinadomingo DOH: Hindi ibinabaliktad ang surgical mask. 'Fake news' po 'iyon.

Don't touch the outer and inner part of the mask, only the cords. #coronavirus

@_katrinadomingo DOH: Ideally, in time of shortage, 'yung may sakit lang sana ang magsusuot ng mask. Kasi kung 'yung may sakit siya lang magsusuot, tayong lahat ay safe na.

Pero kung yung may sakit, ayaw niya mag-mask, tayong lahat magsusuot. #coronavirus

@_katrinadomingo Senate President Tito Sotto presents a video claiming that #coronavirus is result of biowarfare being waged against China. The culprits, the video said, are US and Britain.

@_katrinadomingo DFA Sec. Locsin on the video shown by Sen. Sotto: This is an example of craziest video I've ever seen. #coronavirus

@_katrinadomingo Locsin: It is not true that China withheld information about novel #coronavirus.

@_katrinadomingo Locsin: DFA will only listen to DOH when it comes to handling the #coronavirus.

@_katrinadomingo Binay to Duque: Tama po ba na napakahalaga doon sa containment 'yung contact tracing?

Duque: Mahalagang-mahalaga lalo na doon sa mga nagkaroon ng sintomas. #coronavirus

@_katrinadomingo Duque on PH first fatality: We have been in coordination with Chinese Embassy. The guidance is for the body to be cremated. #coronavirus

@_katrinadomingo Duque says the first group who agreed to do the cremation backed out.

Duque: We are talking with a funeral parlor that agreed to do the cremation today. #coronavirus

@_katrinadomingo Binay: Kapag namatay na po, hindi na carrier?

Duque: Wala na ho. Hindi na po magiging carrier. #coronavirus

@_katrinadomingo Duque: Airlines are not sharing contact details of the passengers. They are invoking confidentiality. #coronavirus

@_katrinadomingo Duque: Airlines invoking Data Privacy Act in not releasing contact details of passengers. #coronavirus

@_katrinadomingo Civil Aeronautics Board: In my experience, the airlines would readily give these kinds of information especially special circumstances. #coronavirus

@_katrinadomingo DOH: 17% of Chinese nationals. 331 co-passengers conducted so far. #coronavirus

@_katrinadomingo Villanueva: Sinasabi natin ready tayo, we are doing everything. Then we hear form the horses mouth, hindi sila na-contact. #coronavirus

@_katrinadomingo Duque: I really don't know the steps, the specific measures of how this should be done.

I hope you give me a chance to look into this and I'll have it investigated. I see here an issue of lack of transparency on part of some of my people here. #coronavirus

@_katrinadomingo DOTr Sec. Tugade: CAAP should be the one getting in touch with the passengers.

@_katrinadomingo Sen. Kiko Pangilinan: I beg to disagree that the secretary of Health is pointing his finger to his underlings.

I think it is also a failure of leadership on the part of the Health department. #coronavirus

@_katrinadomingo Philippine Airlines VP for Security: I'd like to correct the impression of Sec. Duque. In tandem with Cebu Pacific, we already communicated to the Bureau of Epidemiology our concerns regarding the proactiveness of the contact tracing. We have given them the list.

@_katrinadomingo PAL: We already submitted the names of the passengers seated in close proximity to the suspected #nCoV case. As of the moment, we have contacted 74 out of the 132. #coronavirus

@_katrinadomingo Binay: I've heard na medyo nagkakaproblema tayo sa language barrier sa mga PUIs. Have you hired ng magpu-full time na Chinese interpreter?

Duque: The agreement an interpreter should be hired for better communication. #coronavirus

@_katrinadomingo Binay: At the moment, wala pa rin tayong Chinese interpreter?

Duque: Wala pa po. #coronavirus

@_katrinadomingo PAL: Two of them have contacted the DOH. We are cooperative and proactive in doing this.

@_katrinadomingo Sen. Lacson: What happens to the principle in the unity of command? I thought this is a health issue and DOH should be the first line of defense? #coronavirus

@_katrinadomingo Lacson: We shouldn't be blaming other people. Because this is health issue. It is wrong to point to BI, CAAP. It should be the initiative of DOH. #coronavirus

@_katrinadomingo DOH: PhilHealth has #nCoV package for members admitted to hospitals. #coronavirus

@_katrinadomingo DOH: All 17 regions have functional epidemiology units to deal with #coronavirus

@_katrinadomingo Locsin: Filipinos coming from Hubei will be arriving in Clark then taken to quarantine facilities. #coronavirus

@_katrinadomingo Defense Secretary Lorenzana: Fort Magsaysay can be used as quarantine are for OFWs who will come home. #coronavirus

@_katrinadomingo Duque: The RITM has just gotten the RNA primers from Japan needed to test #coronavirus.

It takes about 24 to 48 hours before the results are out.

@_katrinadomingo Duque: Ang isang Primer ay kayang gumawa ng 1,500 tests. There are already 2 sets of RNA Primers. #coronavirus

@_katrinadomingo Locsin: I have appealed that Filipinos working in Hong Kong be allowed to go back. #coronavirus

@_katrinadomingo Tolentino on the Duterte's P2-B allocation for protective gear: Nakakapagtaka kung 2 sets lang yung nabili [na RNA Primers]. Baka kulang 'yung 2 sets. #coronavirus

@_katrinadomingo Duque: Hindi po ito [RNA Primer] test kits.

Tolentino: So we don't have a test kit?

Duque: Wala. #coronavirus

@_katrinadomingo Tolentino: So kaya po nagtatagal 'yung RITM kasi wala tayong test kit?

Duque: It is not available. #coronavirus

@_katrinadomingo Tolentino: China's Jiangsu has developed a rapid test kit for #nCoV. Baka makabili naman tayo with the budget given to you by the President. #coronavirus

@_katrinadomingo UP National Institutes of Health: We would like to state that the UP National Institutes of Health, we already in the process of developing a kit which should be available in the next few days. #coronavirus

@_katrinadomingo DepEd Sec. Briones: We always take our cue from the Department of Health. But we don't wait for memoranda, I call him [Duque] directly. #coronavirus

@_katrinadomingo Briones: Our students are monitored in school by their teachers. #coronavirus

@_katrinadomingo DepEd to temporarily suspend some extra-curricular activities in schools. #coronavirus

@_katrinadomingo Trade Sec. Lopez: DTI should be given authority to make emergency purchases. #coronavirus

@_katrinadomingo DOLE: Repatriated Filipinos will receive financial assistance. #coronavirus

@_katrinadomingo Sec. Bello: Kung uuwi sila ng provinces, sasagutin ng OWWA ang kanilang pamasahe.

May livelihood assistance din po. They can borrow P20,000, walang interest. #coronavirus

@_katrinadomingo Bello: Pag bumalik ang OFW, lahat ng anak covered ng scholarship ng OWWA. #coronavirus

@_katrinadomingo DSWD Sec. Rolando Bautista on OFWs returning to PH: We have financial assistance. We provide them referrals for sustainable livelihood programs. #coronavirus

@_katrinadomingo WHO: During the past week, the average of death range between 40 and 50. Just last night, they've reported more than 50. #coronavirus

@_katrinadomingo Health Sec. Duque on holding concerts amid #nCoV outbreak: We might have to forego the holding of such concerts in the meantime. | via @_katrinadomingo

@_katrinadomingo Duque says officials who were responsible for the slow #nCoV contact tracing process may be fired: “Heads will roll.” #coronavirus | via @_katrinadomingo