BALANGA CITY — The city health office here on Wednesday announced that two foreigners confined as persons under investigation (PUI) were found negative of the 2019 novel coronavirus.
“It has been declared that the two PUI confined at the Bataan General Hospital (BGH) in Balanga City and in the Jose B. Lingad Memorial Hospital (JBLMH) in San Fernando, Pampanga are negative for coronavirus,” city health officer Dr. Mariano Antonio Banzon said.
A Chinese national from Mariveles, Bataan was reported confined at the BGH while a British national from Hermosa, Bataan at the JBLMH.
Banzon said he could not disclose their full identity because of the Data Privacy Act. As to whether the two were already discharged from the hospitals, Banzon could not say but said he believed they were to be discharged.
“We are just relying from reports transmitted by the RITM to Dr. Glory Baltazar that the examination showed they were free from the virus,” he said.
Baltazar is BGH chief. Banzon showed samples of personal protective equipment that he said will be provided to each health worker, if the need arises: “The equipment will be used for investigation and contact tracing.”
He said that face masks will also be distributed to the public, if there is a need and that these are available at the Rural Health Units 1, 2, 3 and 4 in Balanga City. Asked if they have enough face masks, Banzon said “initially may maipapamigay kung may pangangailangan pero walang pangangailangan ngayon.”
He explained how to use the mask and when to use it.
The health officer said they have already created the Barangay Health Emergency Response Team (BHERT) in all the villages in the city following the directive of DILG Sec. Eduardo Ano. Each BHERT, he said, is composed of a barangay executive officer, barangay tanod and two health workers.
“Sila ang maghahanap ng mga barangay citizen na nanggagaling sa ibang bansa na kung may karamdaman na tulad ng sipon, ubo, at lagnat ay imo-monitor for possible quarantine for 15 days. They will be providing us daily reports and updates of those who will be considered as persons under investigation,” Banzon said.
“Ang Balanga City nakaprepara for any negative eventuality,” the city health officer assured.
