Senate to probe DOH response to nCoV

MANILA, Philippines — The Senate committee on health chaired by Sen. Christopher “Bong” Go will inquire into the actions taken by the Department of Health (DOH) after a 38-year-old female tourist from Wuhan City has been recorded as the first confirmed case of novel coronavirus (nCoV) in the country.

The public hearing was set on Tuesday, but Senate President Vicente Sotto III said Go is reportedly making arrangements to move it to Monday or ahead of the schedule due to the urgency of the matter.

Go said his committee would like to find out whether concerned agencies such as the DOH and Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) have acted appropriately to ensure people infected with nCoV are properly taken care of to prevent the spread of the virus.

Go urged Filipinos to be informed and listen to the public hearing that the Senate committee will conduct to explain measures being done by the government to address the issue. 

He advised the public to take the threat seriously, cooperate with authorities and help each other in order to ensure that Filipinos will not be affected by the virus. 

Go said the committee invited key government officials and health experts to the hearing, such as department secretaries, airport and police officials, the Philippine Coast Guard, as well as experts on infectious diseases. 

He advised the public to be careful with the information they share, especially on social media.

“I’m very much concerned and I will do everything to protect the interests of the Filipinos,” Go said.

Meanwhile, Sen. Aquilino Koko Pimentel III expressed disappointment upon hearing from a press conference that government health workers – who are on the frontline in addressing health concerns do not have protective N95 masks.

Pimentel said he would clarify the information with officials of the DOH during the Senate hearing.