Department of Health (DOH) Secretary Francisco Duque III has confirmed the first case of the 2019 novel coronavirus in the Philippines involving a 38 year-old Chinese woman from Wuhan, China.As of now, DOH Region 2 Director Rio Magpantay is yet to confirm if there are two patients under investigation (PUI) in Region 2 Trauma and Medical Center in Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya.

Earlier, there was a PUI in Cagayan Valley Medical Center but Dr. Glenn Baggao confirmed that the patient was not infected with coronavirus and has been released from the hospital.

(UPDATE 10PM)

According to DOHR02 – Health Education and Promotion Unit, the cases at Region 2 Trauma and Medical Center are still up for classification wether or not it fits the case definitions to be considered as PUI. The classification is being done by the Regional Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit today.

Furthermore, HEPU cleared that the declaration if a person is positive of the novel-coronavirus only rests upon the authority of the Secretary of Health.

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