Amid reports that the novel coronavirus (2019-nCOV) is now in the country, Senator Dick Gordon has proposed that separate lanes be made in all ports for travelers who are coming in from China for them to be properly screened for possible infection with the deadly virus.
“Dapat ‘yung ating airports, kapag napadaan ka o galing ka sa China, dapat may investigation,” Gordon said in the interview.
“The DOH should have isolation wards where suspected carriers of Coronavirus can stay.”
The veteran legislator urged the government to put stricter quarantine areas or “firewalls” for individuals who will test positive for the virus. The Department of Health (DOH), the seasoned lawmaker added, should also have isolation wards where suspected carriers of the novel coronavirus can stay “without having to go inside the main wards.”
“The public should not panic but take all the necessary precautions.”
“Every hospital, every health facility public, private or run by local governments have to put in place contingency plans for patients who are consulting for runny nose, cough, sore throat and fever,” the senator said.
He also stated that the public “should not panic but take all the necessary precautions” and called on the government agencies to immediately put in place the preparedness plan to contain the spread of the virus.
“Let us not wait for this to go out of hand. Let us sound the alarm now and prepare for a worst-case scenario. Through timely preparedness, we will save lives and protect our people from an unthinkable and preventable illness that could cause serious disease and unexpected death. So, what are the plans? What are the protocols for hospitals? What measures are in place to prepare for an outbreak?” Gordon said.
The novel coronavirus belongs to the same virus family that causes the common cold to the deadly strains that causes severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and the Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS).
Currently, the death toll from the novel coronavirus stands at 106 with the number of those infected doubling in a day to more than 4,500. Now affected by the outbreak are China, South Korea, Thailand, Japan, Macao, Taiwan, and the United States.