GenSan in state of calamity over 2019 nCoV ARD
Published Feb 5, 2020 12:00 am
By Joseph Jubelag
GENERAL SANTOS CITY – The City Council has declared a state of calamity amid reports that a local Chinese trader here was placed under monitoring for possible infection of the 2019 Novel Corona Virus (nCoV).
General Santos City Councilor Franklin Gacal, Jr. (File photo courtesy of the City Council via PNA / MANILA BULLETIN)
City Councilor Franklin Gacal, who authored the resolution, stressed that the declaration of state of calamity was meant to expedite the pro-active stance of the city government to address the spread of NCOV virus in the city.
He said the declaration of state of calamity in the city was contained in the resolution approved by the City Council on Tuesday which seeks a temporary ban on the entry of all foreign nationals who travelled to mainland China.
“The local government should undertake prompt action to contain the spread of nCoV in the city,” Gacal said.
With the declaration, the city government can now utilize its calamity funds to procure the needed medical supplies to contain the virus.
Gacal said the declaration was an offshoot of the World Health Organization declaring a public health emergency.
Assistant city health officer Lalaine Calonzo said the Chinese businessman had travelled to Wuhan, China during the Chinese New Year’s holiday and returned to the city on January 22.
She said health authorities considered the Chinese who had undergone self quarantine, as a person under monitoring for possible infection of nCoV.
Health personnel are closely monitoring the health condition of the local Chinese trader to determine if there are manifestations of nCoV during the 14-day incubation period that will end on Thursday, February 6.
“If there are manifestations of nCoV, then we will isolate the person,” Calonzo said.
She said health authorities were able to track down the Chinese businessman, who has been living in the city for about four years, after a concerned citizen provided them with information on the reported travel history of the Chinese to Wuhan last month.
She urged local residents to provide local health authorities with any information regarding the entry of foreigners and locals from mainland China and its special administrative regions.
Meanwhile, local health officials in Sarangani, are closely monitoring four Chinese tourists from mainland China and who arrived for a vacation tour in a beach resort in Glan town.
Sarangani provincial health officer Arvin Alejandro said they had coordinated with the Chinese consul office in Davao to inform the Chinese tourists that as a protocol they have to undergo a health quarantine period for 14 days while they are in the Philippines.
General Santos City Councilor Franklin Gacal, Jr. (File photo courtesy of the City Council via PNA / MANILA BULLETIN)
City Councilor Franklin Gacal, who authored the resolution, stressed that the declaration of state of calamity was meant to expedite the pro-active stance of the city government to address the spread of NCOV virus in the city.
He said the declaration of state of calamity in the city was contained in the resolution approved by the City Council on Tuesday which seeks a temporary ban on the entry of all foreign nationals who travelled to mainland China.
“The local government should undertake prompt action to contain the spread of nCoV in the city,” Gacal said.
With the declaration, the city government can now utilize its calamity funds to procure the needed medical supplies to contain the virus.
Gacal said the declaration was an offshoot of the World Health Organization declaring a public health emergency.
Assistant city health officer Lalaine Calonzo said the Chinese businessman had travelled to Wuhan, China during the Chinese New Year’s holiday and returned to the city on January 22.
She said health authorities considered the Chinese who had undergone self quarantine, as a person under monitoring for possible infection of nCoV.
Health personnel are closely monitoring the health condition of the local Chinese trader to determine if there are manifestations of nCoV during the 14-day incubation period that will end on Thursday, February 6.
“If there are manifestations of nCoV, then we will isolate the person,” Calonzo said.
She said health authorities were able to track down the Chinese businessman, who has been living in the city for about four years, after a concerned citizen provided them with information on the reported travel history of the Chinese to Wuhan last month.
She urged local residents to provide local health authorities with any information regarding the entry of foreigners and locals from mainland China and its special administrative regions.
Meanwhile, local health officials in Sarangani, are closely monitoring four Chinese tourists from mainland China and who arrived for a vacation tour in a beach resort in Glan town.
Sarangani provincial health officer Arvin Alejandro said they had coordinated with the Chinese consul office in Davao to inform the Chinese tourists that as a protocol they have to undergo a health quarantine period for 14 days while they are in the Philippines.