China is helping the Philippines fight the spread of novel Coronavirus Acute Respiratory Disease (2019- nCov ARD) by donating 200,000 surgical masks.
Secretary Salvador Panelo, Chief Legal Counsel and Presidential Spokesperson, revealed this in his statement on Sunday, February 2. He added that China, where the novel Coronavirus started, offered to share vital information about the communicable disease.
“We wish to acknowledge with great appreciation the donation of the Chinese government of 200,000 surgical masks and its offer of sharing medical information and findings on the novel coronavirus,” said Panelo, in his official Facebook page. “Such sharing will go a long way in better understanding and containing the spread of nCoV.”
Panelo added that the Philippine government will cooperate with other nations in fight against the disease.
“As members of the family of nations, we remain faithful in our commitment and resolve to help and support one another in these trying and quietus times even as we express our thanks to countries, including China, for helping us in our own fight against the spread of the virus in our territory,” he said.
Panelo urged the Filipinos to avoid sowing “hate, stigma and false narratives vis-à-vis the disease and its origin.”
“They will only exacerbate the already heightened fear among the people by their negativism. Instead of dwelling on the negative, we all should join hands in allaying the apprehensions of the citizenry and contribute to the containment of the disease by observing and following the health protocols put up by the Department of Health and other agencies of the government,” he added.
“Let us all be united and vigilant with the rest of the countries and their citizens in combatting and surmounting this global health emergency'” he concluded.
In the latest count of the Department of Health (DOH), there are already 2 confirmed cases of 2019-nCov with 1 death. Total number persons under investigation (PUIs) recorded is at 52, with 39 still admitted in government hospitals.
