Amid scare that swept Tacloban residents
By: ROEL T. AMAZONA/JOEY A. GABIETA
GOVERNMENT CENTER, PALO, Leyte- As scare swept this city and nearby areas, the regional office of the Department of Health (DOH) denied that there is a confirmed corona virus case in Tacloban.
This emphatic denial was made by DOH Regional Director Dr. Minerva Molon during a hastily prepared media briefing on Friday (Jan.24) morning.
The denial of Molon came in the wake of posts on social media that a 36-year old man, purportedly coming from Wuhan, China, arrived in the city last Jan.17.
According to the World Health Organization, signs of the infection include respiratory symptoms, fever, cough, shortness of breath and breathing difficulties.
In more severe cases, it can lead to pneumonia, severe acute respiratory syndrome, kidney failure and even death.
Reports say the incubation period of the coronavirus remains unknown, but other sources say it could be between 10 to 14 days.
“Let me emphasize that there is no novel corona virus infection in Tacloban. Just because this person allegedly came from Wuhan as reported on the social media. Only the Secretary of Health who can confirm any cases because we don’t have yet scientific basis to declare there is an infection in Tacloban,” Molon said.
But during a press briefing conducted at the central office of the health department, it said that the case of the 36-year old man is being treated as a ‘suspected case’ due to his history travel and experienced respiratory illness.
Molon said that if ever there is really a person said to have acquired the deadly virus, the department of health will discuss and treat the matter according to their protocol.
She also cautioned the health workers if ever they know a patient under their care and is suspected to have the symptoms of the illness not to post it on social media but inform her or any assigned health official in the region to show respect on the person.
The regional DOH office has established surveillance teams to hospitals, particularly government-owned, to know if there is a patient confined suspected to have the dreaded virus.
But still, the post, whose origin has yet to be determined, created a scare among residents of this city, prompting Molon to ask netizens to check their informations to concerned government offices like the DOH in order not to create unnecessary and unfounded panic.
“Let us all help to pacify the public and if we don’t have basis on this, let us minimized in posting this so as not to create panic,” she added.
Molon cautioned the public to observe personal hygiene as a way to combat of getting sick.
