PNP almost done with contact tracing of co-passengers of nCoV-positive Chinese tourists
By Vanne Elaine TerrazolaÂ
The Philippine National Police (PNP) is almost done with the contact tracing of the domestic flight passengers who were with the two Chinese tourists who tested positive for the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV), an official said on Friday.
Col. Rhoderick Armamento (PNA / MANILA BULLETIN FILE PHOTO)
In a radio interview, PNP-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) deputy chief for operations Col. Rhoderick Armamento said police have reached out to 91 out of the total 193 passengers of the January 21 Cebu-Dumaguete flight of Cebu Pacific and the January 25 Dumaguete-Manila flight of Philippine Airlines, as of 6 a.m. Friday.
This was an increase from the 48 they have contacted as of Thursday, February 6.
The CIDG was tasked to locate the passengers of the local flights boarded by the Chinese national, while the Deparment of Health was assigned to the international flights.
They were given 48 hours, starting Wednesday, to trace all the concerned passengers.
"Actually, matatapos na ito (this will be completed), (we are) almost done na kami," Armamento declared in an interview over radio DzBB Friday morning.
Armamento disclosed that one of the passengers who were reported to be manifesting symptoms of respiratory diseases was cleared of the 2019-nCoV.
"They found out na may history lang ng asthma so ni-rule out nila na hindi ito involved (that the person has history of asthma so they ruled out the virus)," he said, saying that police were with Department of Health (DOH) epidemiology surveillance teams in checking the passengers' conditions.
Earlier, six Filipinos showed symptoms of cough, colds, and similar respiratory conditions.
The PNP, he said, is still challenged by individuals who continue to ignore or refuse to answer their calls, or those who did not give contact numbers. He appealed to them to cooperate with authorities to prevent the virus from further spreading.
Armamento said they will seek for the Bureau of Immigration's help in contacting the said passengers.
But overall, he said passengers have been "very accommodating, and have appreciated their efforts."
Col. Rhoderick Armamento (PNA / MANILA BULLETIN FILE PHOTO)
In a radio interview, PNP-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) deputy chief for operations Col. Rhoderick Armamento said police have reached out to 91 out of the total 193 passengers of the January 21 Cebu-Dumaguete flight of Cebu Pacific and the January 25 Dumaguete-Manila flight of Philippine Airlines, as of 6 a.m. Friday.
This was an increase from the 48 they have contacted as of Thursday, February 6.
The CIDG was tasked to locate the passengers of the local flights boarded by the Chinese national, while the Deparment of Health was assigned to the international flights.
They were given 48 hours, starting Wednesday, to trace all the concerned passengers.
"Actually, matatapos na ito (this will be completed), (we are) almost done na kami," Armamento declared in an interview over radio DzBB Friday morning.
Armamento disclosed that one of the passengers who were reported to be manifesting symptoms of respiratory diseases was cleared of the 2019-nCoV.
"They found out na may history lang ng asthma so ni-rule out nila na hindi ito involved (that the person has history of asthma so they ruled out the virus)," he said, saying that police were with Department of Health (DOH) epidemiology surveillance teams in checking the passengers' conditions.
Earlier, six Filipinos showed symptoms of cough, colds, and similar respiratory conditions.
The PNP, he said, is still challenged by individuals who continue to ignore or refuse to answer their calls, or those who did not give contact numbers. He appealed to them to cooperate with authorities to prevent the virus from further spreading.
Armamento said they will seek for the Bureau of Immigration's help in contacting the said passengers.
But overall, he said passengers have been "very accommodating, and have appreciated their efforts."