Mayor REX Gatchalian holds a coordination meeting with the Department of Health – Metro Manila Center for Health Development (DOH-MMCHD) and private hospital reps to clarify concerns on patient identification and proper referral systems, a move that shall ensure the promotion, protection and preservation of health and general welfare in Valenzuela City.

COVID-2019, formerly known as 2019-nCoV ARD and acknowledged by the World Health Organization (WHO) as a “Public Health Emergency of International Concern,” has now listed four-hundred eight (408) persons under investigation (PUI) in the Philippines as of February 12, 2020, with the country already suffering one (1) casualty attributed to the virus.

Although no local transmission has been recorded yet, Valenzuela City forms its structure to prepare for the worst-case scenario -- understanding the prime role of the local government to exercise its powers to uphold necessary precautions on health and safety.

“I am already invoking general welfare… All private hospitals can use the City's police powers… [I am] instructing all hospitals to keep all PUIs in the isolation rooms until CESU comes in,” Mayor REX declared. This, supported by the issuance of Executive Order No. 2020-018 of the City Government of Valenzuela on the same day, shall be for “immediate compliance by all private and public hospitals, health, bherts and other facilities” on handling COVID-2019 PUIs.

Under the executive order, all aforementioned facilities shall immediately comply with the pronouncements of the DOH, Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), Valenzuela City Police Station (VCPS) and the City Health Office (CHO) to have PUIs wait for the City Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit (CESU) personnel to validate and provide necessary actions to protect the patients and the public from COVID-19. This includes proper referral and transfer of patients from the facility to a hospital referred by the Regional Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit (RESU).

Apart from this, Valenzuela City will also capacitate its local CESU teams in case additional referrals and calls come into the ALERT Hotline of 8352-5000.

The ALERT Hotline will also be manned by a medical personnel conducting a “phone assessment” or interview for residents reporting possible COVID-2019 cases.

Dr. Manuel Mapue II from RESU also prompts healthcare personnel to always have their personal protective equipment (PPE) when assisting patients. If in the worst case that the patient turned positive for COVID-2019 after the testing, all personnel who came in close contact with the patient must undergo quarantine for 14 days. CESU shall then conduct contact tracing.

Dr. Corazon Flores, Regional Director of DOH Metro Manila Center for Health Development, reminds all hospitals to still assist patients presenting symptoms of fever, respiratory problems and have a history of travel to Hong Kong, Macau and China for the last 14 days or with history of exposure, as these symptoms associated with COVID-2019 are yet to be confirmed until further investigation. It is important to hold the suspected PUIs in the hospital isolation/holding area for proper assessment while waiting for the CESU.

“If there are patients who go to your hospital presenting the symptoms, do not drive them away. Hospitals must check and assist the patient and hold them at the isolation area of the hospital. Do not let the patient feel that they are not being assisted,” Dr. Flores stated.

For suspected cases of COVID-2019, please call the Valenzuela City COVID-2019 Hotline at 8352-5000.