The Department of Health (DOH) said that at least four people in Region 9 have been classified as “Persons Under Monitoring” (PUM) for the novel coronavirus (2019 nCoV).

Dr. Joshua Brillantes, DOH assistant regional director said the four PUMs are from Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga del Sur, and Zamboanga City.

Brillantes said the PUMs are being closely monitored by health professionals and placed under home quarantine for 14 days. The monitoring ends on February 10.

“They are Filipinos. They went to China for a vacation,” he said of the PUMs.

The 2019-nCoV was first detected in Wuhan City, Hubei province, China. The deadly disease has spread to other countries, including the Philippines.

Brillantes said Region 9 is still 2019-nCoV free and with no individuals classified as Persons Under Investigation (PUI).

He said the PUMs are individuals who have a history of exposure in countries with positive cases of 2019-nCoV while the PUIs are people who have a travel history to China with symptoms, or with history on exposure to patients with the disease.

The DOH said that there are already three confirmed cases of 2019-nCoV in the country with one fatality. (PNA)