As a precautionary measure against the Novel Coronavirus or 2019-nCoV, the Quezon City government encouraged local hospitals to intensify surveillance and support efforts on reporting possible cases for early detection.

“Kahit wala pang kumpirmadong kaso ng 2019-nCov sa bansa, hindi tayo puwedeng maging kampante at mag-relax,” said Mayor Joy Belmonte.

“Kailangang maging mapagmatyag pa rin tayo at agad iparating sa kinauukulan kung may nakita tayong mga posibleng kaso ng nasabing sakit upang ito’y matugunan agad,” added Belmonte.

Belmonte also urged the public call Hotline 122 to get more information about the disease that has killed 80 people in China as of Monday and has spread to several countries, including Southeast Asian neighbors Thailand, Vietnam and Singapore.

Dr. Rolando Cruz, head of the Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit, encouraged local residents to practice proper hygiene as it could help them stay healthy.

Dr. Cruz said the public should wash their hands often with soap and water, avoid touching eyes, nose or mouth with unwashed hands and use hand sanitizer as much as possible.

Also, local residents are advised to wear mask if they have symptoms of respiratory illness, like cough or colds, and stay at home if there are no pressing engagements outside.

“They should also cover their mouth and nose with tissue when coughing or sneezing and wash your hands thereafter,” Dr. Cruz said, recommending that local residents who have these symptoms should wear masks.

Local residents should seek immediate medical attention if they have flu-like symptoms, especially those who have history of travel in China in the last 14 days, Dr. Cruz said, adding it is important to declare travel history to the health care worker.

Dr. Cruz met with hospitals last Friday to remind them to prepare for the possibility of any 2019 n-Cov infection and to review the protocol implemented for the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) in the past.

The city’s Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (DRRMO) has two ambulances with isolation covers and around 8,000 N95 masks ready for use if the need arises.

The city government is also closely coordinating with the Department of Health (DOH) to provide it with protective gear if necessary.