Duque says body of deceased nCoV patient no longer infectious
Published Feb 4, 2020 12:00 am
By Vanne Elaine Terrazola
The 44-year-old Chinese man who died of the novel coronavirus acute respiratory disease (2019-nCoV ARD) will no longer infect other individuals, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said Tuesday.
Health Secretary Francisco Duque III
(AP Photo/Aaron Favila / MANILA BULLETIN) Duque, citing health experts, confirmed before the Senate health committee that the 2019-nCoV ARD acquired by the Chinese male from Wuhan, China, is no longer contagious. "The experts behind me are one in saying that they will no longer be infectious once dead," Duque said, when asked by Sen. Nancy Binay on the Department of Health's (DOH) protocols for fatalities infected by 2019-nCoV. "So ‘pag namatay, hindi na rin magiging carrier?" Binay clarified. "Wala na ho, hindi na ho magiging carrier (No more, he is no longer a carrier). Pero naka-sealed body bag ito, so kahit na mayroon pong agam-agam, 'yon pong (But he is contained in a sealed body bag so if there are concerns, the) measures ensure that this is sealed and therefore the coronavirus will not be able to get out," the DOH chief said. Duque said in the hearing that a funeral parlor agreed to cremate the Chinese fatality and scheduled the procedure for Tuesday. "I just have to get the latest update on this, whether in fact, the body of this Chinese national has been cremated," he said. Earlier in the hearing, Duque lamented about the flip-flopping of a group "within the Chinese Chamber of Commerce" about the cremation of their fellow Chinese national. The group, he said, initially agreed to handle the cremation of the foreigner, but later "backed out." "Well, they have their own mindset. That's the problem with them, sabi ko, 'Pambihira naman (That's absurd), you are fellow Chinese, dapat pakita ninyo na susuportahan niyo (you should show that you are supporting them). I don't know, I didn't get the full story behind, but it’s very unfortunate to hear stories like this, because it’s at this time, they should start sense of, you know, patriotism for their fellow Chinese national," a disappointed Duque said. "It's difficult to understand." The Chinese national, who arrived in the Philippines via Hong Kong last Jan. 21, died on Saturday of severe pneumonia due to the 2019-nCov, the DOH reported Sunday. His was the first 2019-nCoV ARD death recorded outside of China.
Health Secretary Francisco Duque III(AP Photo/Aaron Favila / MANILA BULLETIN) Duque, citing health experts, confirmed before the Senate health committee that the 2019-nCoV ARD acquired by the Chinese male from Wuhan, China, is no longer contagious. "The experts behind me are one in saying that they will no longer be infectious once dead," Duque said, when asked by Sen. Nancy Binay on the Department of Health's (DOH) protocols for fatalities infected by 2019-nCoV. "So ‘pag namatay, hindi na rin magiging carrier?" Binay clarified. "Wala na ho, hindi na ho magiging carrier (No more, he is no longer a carrier). Pero naka-sealed body bag ito, so kahit na mayroon pong agam-agam, 'yon pong (But he is contained in a sealed body bag so if there are concerns, the) measures ensure that this is sealed and therefore the coronavirus will not be able to get out," the DOH chief said. Duque said in the hearing that a funeral parlor agreed to cremate the Chinese fatality and scheduled the procedure for Tuesday. "I just have to get the latest update on this, whether in fact, the body of this Chinese national has been cremated," he said. Earlier in the hearing, Duque lamented about the flip-flopping of a group "within the Chinese Chamber of Commerce" about the cremation of their fellow Chinese national. The group, he said, initially agreed to handle the cremation of the foreigner, but later "backed out." "Well, they have their own mindset. That's the problem with them, sabi ko, 'Pambihira naman (That's absurd), you are fellow Chinese, dapat pakita ninyo na susuportahan niyo (you should show that you are supporting them). I don't know, I didn't get the full story behind, but it’s very unfortunate to hear stories like this, because it’s at this time, they should start sense of, you know, patriotism for their fellow Chinese national," a disappointed Duque said. "It's difficult to understand." The Chinese national, who arrived in the Philippines via Hong Kong last Jan. 21, died on Saturday of severe pneumonia due to the 2019-nCov, the DOH reported Sunday. His was the first 2019-nCoV ARD death recorded outside of China.