The Philippine Embassy in Dili advises the Filipino Community in Timor-Leste to take the necessary precautions against the Novel Coronavirus (2019 - nCoV), though there has been no confirmed case in Timor-Leste and the World Health Organization has not declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern.

We recommend the following be done to minimize the risk of exposure:
• Clean hands with soap and water or alcohol-based hand rub before eating, when preparing food, when caring for the sick, after toilet use, after handling animals or animal waste.
• Cover nose and mouth when coughing and sneezing with tissue or flexed elbow;
• Avoid close contact with anyone that has cold or flu-like symptoms;
• Thoroughly cook eggs and meat; and
• No unprotected contact with live wild or farm animals.

Common symptoms include fever, cough, runny nose, sore throat, and shortness of breath. If one feels unwell and has a fever of about 38 degrees Celsius, please call MOH’s focal point number at +670 77542457 and Hospital Nacional Guido Valadares emergency number at +670 3310461, especially if one has traveled to China or had contact with people who had respiratory diseases or with sick animals in the period of 14 days before the symptoms emerged.

The Philippine Embassy advised the public to be on high alert because this virus can be transmitted from one person to another.

For more information, the WHO may be contacted through the following numbers.

Mr. Botra Banay

 +670-78325741 and 77356444

Dili, 05 February 2020 @tfb