By Jhon Aldrin Casinas
After the announcement of the first confirmed case of the novel coronavirus (nCoV) in the Philippines, The Medical City (TMC) released a list of guidelines for the public to follow to reduce the risk of being infected with the virus.
In an advisory, TMC advised the public to avoid close contact with anyone who shows cold or flu-like symptoms, avoid unprotected contact with live wild or farm animals, and to cook meat and eggs thoroughly.
TMC also urged everyone to regularly clean their hands with soap and water or alcohol-based hand rub, and to cover their nose and mouth when coughing and sneezing with the use of tissue or flexed elbow.
The Department of Health earlier confirmed the first case of nCoV in the country, involving a 38-year-old Chinese woman from Wuhan, China.
According to TMC, the signs and symptoms of nCoV include runny nose, headache, sore throat, coughing, fever, and a general feeling of being unwell.
“Take extra precaution and monitor if these symptoms persist and consult our doctors to diagnose your condition,” TMC said.
“The Medical City (TMC) has appropriately trained personnel capable of evaluating possible cases safely and measures are in place to ensure that both patients and staff are kept safe at all times.”