President Rodrigo Duterte has asked the public not to blame the Chinese for the outbreak of the 2019 novel coronavirus (nCov) because it is harmful.
“Blaming Chinese is xenophobia,” President Duterte said Monday night in a media interview in Malacañang.
Also read: #IamNotAVirus: new coronavirus spreads, so do racism and xenophobia
“Galit ka sa mga bagay na Intsik. Hindi maganda. Mabait sa atin ang China. Ganyan din maipapakita natin sa kanila. Itigil ang xenophobia na iyan. Sinisisi nila ang mga Intsik na dumarating mula China. Maaaring lagi itong ma-incubate sa ibang lugar,” the President said.
(You hate Chinese things. Not good. China is kind to us. We can show them the same way. Stop that xenophobia. They blame the Chinese who came from China. It can always be incubated elsewhere.)
The President called for an emergency meeting with top government officials to determine what action would be taken against the nCov.
Duterte: don’t blame Chinese for nCoV; China is kind to the Philippines
The novel coronavirus (nCoV), which first emerged from Wuhan City, China, already killed 490 and infected over 20,000 people as of today, February 5, 2020.
“Una, maraming mga Pilipinong nasa China,” he emphasized.
(First, there are lots of Filipinos in China.)
“Pangalawa, kahit wala, alam mo, isa tayong komunidad ng mga bansa. Maipapakita natin sa kanila ang kahalintulad na pabor,” he added.
(Second, even if there is none, you know, we are a community of nations. We can show them a similar favor.)
Duterte also asked private hospitals to help prevent the spread of novel coronavirus in the country.
The President appealed last night in a meeting with top government officials in Malacañang regarding nCov.
The President has appealed to private hospitals to treat suspected nCov patients after reports came to him that some are not accommodating persons with symptoms of 2019 n-CoV.
The President also assured the DOH that the government would provide funding for the necessary equipment and vehicles to transport possible nCov victims.
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