A CANADIAN national quarantined at the Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital (CLMMRH) for suspected 2019 novel coronavirus acute respiratory disease (2019-nCoV ARD) was tested negative for the virus.
Bacolod City Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran, chairperson of Bacolod City Inter-Agency Task For against nCoV, confirmed this on Wednesday, February 5, after the Research Institute of Tropical Medicine (RITM) released its negative result Tuesday evening.
Familiaran said the Canadian, who was considered as person under investigation (PUI), was discharged from the hospital Wednesday, but he is still subject for monitoring.
Julius Drilon, CLMMRH chief, said there are two PUIs still confined at the Emerging Infection Disease (EID) facility, waiting for the laboratory results from the RITM.
"The CLMMRH is assuring the public that the hospital is implementing strict infection control measures and protocols in providing treatment to these patients," Drilon said.
He reminded the public not to spread fake news and always verify information from the Department of Health (DOH) official website www.doh.gov.ph/2019-nCoV.
Drilon also encouraged the public to continue practicing proper hygiene, washing hand regularly, and observing proper cough and sneeze etiquette.
Dr. Grace Tan, spokesperson of Bacolod City Inter-Agency Task For against 2019-nCoV, said that based on their records, Bacolod City has a total of five PUIs and one them was already discharged.
"There are still four PUIs confined in the city's tertiary hospitals, but it doesn't mean that they are positive for nCoV. We are still waiting the confirmatory test from the RITM," she said.
She added the four PUI include three males and a female. They presented with signs and symptoms of flu and history of travel from Taiwan and Hong Kong.
