Go Assures Full Aid to Returning Filipinos from Wuhan

Senator Christopher “Bong” Go on Tuesday assured that the government will provide comprehensive transportation and quarantine assistance to Filipinos who wish to return home from Wuhan City, China amid the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) outbreak.

“Kino-consider naman po ng Department of Foreign Affairs ‘yung aking suggestion kahapon (The DFA is considering my suggestion) about around 50 Filipinos in Wuhan who wish to return home will be assured comprehensive transportation using military facilities and quarantine assistance,” Go said in an ambush interview.

However, Go said the returnees will need to undergo proper quarantine protocol to deter the spread of the virus.

In a resolution released by the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases, returnees shall be quarantined for 14 days.

“They must follow the protocol. A 100-percent safety measure should be conducted. Walang dapat makalusot dito (Nobody should be exempted here),” Go said.

“Just as it is our responsibility to assist and safeguard all those who may have been affected, responsibilidad din natin na pangalagaan ang kalusugan ng nakararami (it is also our responsibility to protect the health of the majority),” he added.

Meanwhile, Go urged authorities to strengthen safety protocols for foreign nationals entering the country to prevent the entry of the new coronavirus strain that has already reached Japan, Korea, Vietnam, Singapore, Australia, Malaysia, Thailand, Nepal, the United States, Canada, and France.

The chair of the Senate Committee on Health said his panel will hold a public hearing Tuesday next week to discuss with concerned agencies the next steps to prevent the entry of the virus to the country.

Officials from the DFA, CAB, Department of Health (DOH), as well as seaport and airport authorities will be present in the hearing.

But even if there are no confirmed cases of 2019-nCoV infection in the country, Go urged the public to follow safety precautions to prevent transmission and spread of the virus.

“The virus can be transmitted not just through direct exchange of body fluids. It can be transferred if there are droplets in the hands. Hence, hygiene and constant washing are important,” Go said.

“So far, wala pa naman positive. At sana walang magiging positive (nobody has tested positive. And hopefully, nobody will test positive,” he said. (PNA)