This process follows the World Health Organization monitoring of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) suspected patients as of February 27 and may change depending on the development of information, transmission patterns, and pathogenicity of the virus. A confirmed case is a person with laboratory confirmation of COVID-19 infection, regardless of clinical signs and symptoms.

  For medical personnel, the following are the appropriate personal protective equipment:

• Well-fitting N95 mask (fit-tested)
• Eye protection (goggles/face shield)
• Impermeable gown
• Surgical gloves

For more info, please refer to the Guidelines on Infection Control for COVID-19.   A suspected patient exhibits an Acute Respiratory Illness with the following symptoms:

• Fever (not less than or equal to 38 degrees Celsius)
• Cough
• Shortness of breath or other respiratory symptoms
• Diarrhea

If the patient shows the following, the following questions must be confirmed:

• Travel to or residence in a country reporting local transmission of COVID-19 (see here for an up-to-date list)
• Close contact with a confirmed COVID-19 case, which includes:
• Direct care without proper personal protective equipment
• Stating in the same close environment
• Traveling together in close proximity

  If the following questions are answered “No”, but exhibit severe acute respiratory infection or atypical pneumonia, the patient will be admitted to a designated COVID-19 center for further testing, regardless of the exposure history. If the following questions are affirmative, the symptoms must be verified whether or not it occurs within 14 days of exposure. If no, then the suspected case is not COVID-19. Meanwhile, confirmed patients under monitoring (PUMs) or asymptomatic patients will either undergo home quarantine for 14 days or admit to a designated COVID-19 isolation area for Patient Under Investigation (PUIs). For mild cases with no existing illnesses can be sent home after testing along with the instructions for home quarantine. If asymptomatic, patients will be monitored for the development of symptoms within the 14-day period.   —(Source: Department of Health)