Specimen of ONP’s patient suspected of nCov, to be sent to RITM today

The specimen taken from a ten-year-old’s patient of Ospital ng Palawan (ONP) who is now under isolation due to alleged human Corona virus will be sent to Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) today, either via a private courier or thru Philippine Airforce (PAF).

“[W]ait lang po tayo sa result after mga 48 to 72 hours after ma-send sa RITM and stable daw po ang patient,” DOH-CHD MIMAROPA Health Education and Promotion Officer Romalyn Racho disclosed through a text message to Palawan Daily News

Health authorities urge travelers for malaria checks

CHO identifies Sicsican with highest number of dengue cases

City medtech trained to improve TB detection and prevention

Racho also clarifies that the specimen may or may not be sent to Australia, depending on the result of series of tests.

“Pag nadala na po sa RITM [ang swab] at na-test po at na-identify ng Coronavirus, no need na pong dalhin sa Australia. If nag-negative po sa lahat ng test at unidentified po ang virus, saka po ipadadala sa Australia. Additional five (5) days po ‘yun before natin malaman [ang] result,” she added.

The patient, Helena, together with her parents—a business man and a mechanical engineer, arrived in ONP around 1:54 in the morning yesterday. They were fetched from El Nido by the personnel of Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) with complete Personal Protective Equipment and trained EMT.

According to a reliable source, the said individuals previously reported to be Brazilian nationals are actually Colombians.

DOH-CHD MIMAROPA Regional Director Mario Baquilod earlier announced that the patient’s fever had gone and she is only now afflicted with respiratory infections.

The health authorities posited some criteria in categorizing an individual to be called as “suspect/s” of novel Corona Virus, such as manifesting a fever, throat irritation, cough, and was be able to travel to Wuhan City, China.

In a separate phone interview of Palawan Daily News (PDN) with Dr. Audie Csar Cipriano, Medical Professional Staff of ONP, he said that they no longer treat the parents as “suspects of 2019 nCov” but they cannot leave their young daughter alone in an isolated area.

“They (parents) can be placed as out patients [but] siyempre, hindi lang nila maiwan ang bata kasi ten years old [pa lang]. Ang bata ang suspect namin na ‘posibleng’ magkaroon [ng nCoV],” Dr. Cipriano said. But he explained that because they came from the source of the novel Corona outbreak, they are still placed under observation as of the moment.

Dr. Cipriano also told the public that the Corona virus is just like any other systematic virus, akin to flu.

“Actually, mas deadly pa ang SARS [kumpara] rito sa nCoV. May ano lang kasi ito, ikono-compromise ang mga mahihina ang resistensiya na may ibang sakit, mga matatanda tsaka mga bata,” he said, reiterating the importance of strengthening of each and everyone’s immune systems.

ONP staff, patients, wear masks He also explained on why the ONP staff and the patients do wear masks, and said that it is part of their precautionary measures in order to prevent the widespread of the virus if ever confirmed.

About a text message that is circulating online rapidly saying that there is a patient in ONP who is already positive of nCoV, he said that they did not issue a statement yet, affirming the issue.

“Hindi ‘yun official, unofficial ‘yun na statement,” he said.

“Huwag po tayong masyadong mabahala at dahil wala pa po talagang coronavirus sa ating lalawigan sa Palawan. Lahat po ng nasa atin ngayon is just a suspect; di pa po nako-confirm,” he appeals to the public.

Meanwhile, Rosemarie Guanzon of Bgy. Mandaragat, an aunt of a nine-month old baby, was also spotted wearing a mask while waiting for their turn at ONP. They also put a protective gear to the baby.

Rosemarie Guanzon of Bgy. Mandaragat, an aunt of a nine-month old baby. Photo by Diana Ross Cetenta

“Ngayon lang [kami nagsuot ng ganito] kasi kanina, nabalitaan namin na may ipinasok dito sa Ospital ng Palawan na may virus nga raw po. Kailangan na magsuot ng mask ang lahat. Eh! Nasa hangin daw ‘yung sakit. Di ko alam kung anong mga sakit ‘yun. ‘Yan ang sabi sa loob (Emergency room), pati mga bata raw suotan kasi mahirap na raw mahawaan,” Guanzon told the PDN.

She accompanied her sibling to the hospital, for her niece’ check-up, who that time, was suffering from “diarrhea and vomiting”.

Kanina pa kami ritong alas dos [ng hapon]. Hanggang ngayon, hindi pa kami nakakapa-check-up kasi isang doctor lang daw ang diyan. Tapos ang inuna raw ‘yung pasyente na Brazilians kaya kami kanina pa rito,” she added.

On the other hand, among the DOH earlier advises to the public is to practice frequent handwashing, avoid unprotected contact with farm and wild animals; practice proper coughing etiquette, that is to maintain distance and cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue or the crook of your elbow, avoid close contact with people showing flu-like symptoms and ensure that the food is well-cooked.