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* Two confirmed cases of coronavirus in Philippines
* Man from Wuhan died on Saturday, companion also infected
* Philippines expands travel ban
By Enrico Dela Cruz
MANILA, Feb 2 (Reuters) - The Philippines on Sunday said
that a 44-year-old Chinese man had died of the new coronavirus,
the first fatality outside of China, prompting tighter travel
restrictions for both Filipinos and foreigners.
The Department of Health said there were now two confirmed
infections in the Philippines, including the man from Wuhan in
Hubei province, the epicentre of the outbreak, who died on
Saturday.
The man, who was admitted to a government hospital in Manila
on Jan. 25, had developed severe pneumonia, the department said.
In China, the death toll from the coronavirus outbreak had
reached 304 as of the end of Saturday, state broadcaster CCTV
said on Sunday, citing the country's National Health Commission,
with recorded cases of infections at more than 14,000.
The man who died was a companion of a 38-year-old Chinese
woman, also from Wuhan, who was the first to test positive for
the virus in the Philippines. Both patients arrived in the Philippines via Hong Kong on
Jan. 21, the health department said.
While the patient who died was "stable and showed signs of
improvement" during his last few days in the hospital, his
condition deteriorated in the 24 hours before he died, Health
Secretary Francisco Duque told reporters.
"We are currently working with the Chinese embassy to ensure
the dignified management of the remains according to national
and international standards to contain the disease," he said.
Duque said all measures needed to contain the spread of the
virus were being strictly implemented and followed, including by
health personnel who came in contact with the two patients.
FAST-EVOLVING
"This health event is fast-evolving and fluid. We are
continuously recalibrating our plans and efforts as the
situation develops," Duque said.
Some Filipinos were worried after health officials announced
the first fatality of the new coronavirus in the Philippines.
"It really is frightening because the virus will spread,"
said 49-year-old Lyn Romano, who has been wearing a face mask
since last week, when the Philippines' first positive case was
confirmed.
Twenty-four patients previously under investigation for
infection tested negative for the new coronavirus, while samples
from four other patients were still being tested, the health
department said.
Passengers aboard the flights of the two positive cases were
being traced.
Cebu Air Inc CEB.PS , which operates Cebu Pacific airline,
said it was working closely with health authorities to contact
all passengers aboard those two flights on Jan. 21.
The two patients had taken Cebu Pacific flights from Hong
Kong to Cebu and from Cebu to Dumaguete in central Philippines,
the airline said in a statement.
The cabin crew and pilots on affected flights have been
quarantined, and the aircraft have undergone thorough
disinfection, it said.
Cebu Air and two other Philippine carriers, Philippine
Airlines PHL.UL and the local unit of AirAsia Group Bhd,
AIRA.KL have cancelled flights to China this month, joining
many others around the world that have done the same.
The health department's announcement came shortly after the
Philippine government expanded its travel ban to include all
foreigners coming from China, Hong Kong and Macau. It had
previously restricted only those from Hubei.
Foreigners who have been to China, Hong Kong and Macau
within 14 days of travelling to the Philippines will also be
barred from entering the country, aviation officials said.
Filipinos have been prevented from travelling to China and
its special administrative regions, while those arriving from
those places will be placed under 14-day home quarantine.