By Jhon Aldrin Casinas
Amid the scare brought about by the 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV), San Juan City Mayor Francis Zamora urged the public to remain calm but vigilant.
San Juan Mayor Francis Zamora
(ALI VICOY / MANILA BULLETIN FILE PHOTO)
This was after the Department of Health (DOH) confirmed on Thursday the first case of 2019-nCoV in the country, involving a 38-year-old woman from Wuhan, China.
City officials, department heads, and other officials in San Juan convened an emergency meeting on Friday, where Zamora outlined the local government’s response to avoid the spread of the dreaded virus.
“We are saddened by this information but we have to stay strong and united in fighting this virus,” Zamora said. “We all have to be prepared, and I can assure our constituents that the local government is prepared and ready to respond to this deadly virus.”
To prevent the proliferation of the disease, Zamora said he has ordered the installation of hand sanitizers and non-contact infrared thermometers at the entrances of City Hall. Face masks will be also distributed.
“This is just the first step that we would do,” he said in a statement. “We have to ensure the safety of the front-liners and employees of the local government, so that we can provide better services and assistance to our constituents especially during this time that all of us are at risk.”
Meanwhile, the City Health Department called on people experiencing flu-like symptoms to immediately consult a doctor. It said that patients with flu-like symptoms who sought assistance from hospitals, health centers and clinics in the city will be monitored by the department.
Dr. Joseph Acosta, medical director of San Juan Medical Center, said that they are currently “drawing protocols at par to global standards to prevent the spread of the virus, should we have a case in the city.”