Following the session of the Valenzuela City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (VCDRRMC) led by Mayor REX Gatchalian last January 30, 2020, the City constantly exerts its holistic efforts to intensify the local nCoV game plan.

The Valenzuela City Health Office (CHO) conducts an Acute Respiratory Disease (ARD) Orientation among public school clinicians and principals today, February 04, 2020, to educate school practitioners of the proper handling of ARD cases and protocols to monitor possible nCoV cases. The orientation is part of the surveillance and monitoring system of the CHO to educate principals and clinicians of the nCoV assessment/tool, its early detection signs and the containment strategies of the disease.

As schools are also at the forefront in safeguarding students to a healthy and safe environment, Department of Education (DepEd) Valenzuela provides details on thermal scanning and fever protocols for schools. The thermal scanning will be aided by infrared forehead thermometers or commonly referred to as “thermal guns”, with each school receiving one (1) infrared forehead thermometer. DepEd Valenzuela Officer-in-Charge Dr. Meliton Zurbano also encouraged all school heads to procure additional thermometers for the respective school’s use.

Although checking the body temperature alone does not determine if a person has nCoV, the thermometers will easily detect elevated body temperatures of students and other possible infectious diseases for referral.

The CHO has already formed evidence and response teams in the height of the novel coronavirus for disease surveillance. An Executive Order is also under way to prevent illegal overpricing of face masks as part of this.

CHO Head Dr. Jaime Exconde Jr. also reminds everyone to stay observant and be aware of “fake news” aimed to deliberately misinform and deceive the public about the nCoV scare.

“Do not listen to fake news. Please only follow the official social media accounts of our City. It is our responsibility to help the public [or those in our care] to stay calm… and we can be calm by having the right and accurate information and knowledge. That is why we have this [orientation] for you so you know the situation of the City of Valenzuela,” Dr. Exconde further explained.

The orientation also emphasized the four (4) indicators of the decision tool for nCoV assessment which includes manifestation of either 1) fever of more than 38 degrees Celsius, 2) respiratory infection, 3) travel history in China, Hong Kong and Macau for the past 14 days, and 4) history of exposure.

The novel coronavirus is a respiratory illness first detected in Wuhan, China with a record of three-hundred four (304) deaths globally. As of February 03, 2020, there are two (2) confirmed cases of nCov in the country and eighty (80) persons under investigation (PUI).  The Department of Health (DOH) has also undertaken stricter infection control measures in health facilities, with the Philippine government imposing a travel ban from mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau.

For suspected cases of nCoV, please call the Valenzuela City nCoV Hotline at 8352-5000 or the City Health Office at 8352-1000.

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