Health authorities are now monitoring at least nine persons for possible 2019 coronavirus acute respiratory disease (nCoV-ARD) having recently traveled to countries where the disease exists, an official said on Monday.

Lawyer Paulo Evangelista, city information chief, said there is nothing to worry and what the health office is doing is objectively a precautionary measure.

Dr. Hamir Hechanova, city health chief, said the nine persons have not shown symptoms of the disease so far.

The Department of Health (DOH) defines persons under investigation (PUI) as those who have shown symptoms of coronavirus such as fever and cough, and have a travel history to China, Hong Kong, or were exposed to persons with nCoV.

Persons under monitoring (PUM), meanwhile, are those without symptoms of fever, cough and runny nose but have traveled to countries where nCoV was confirmed.

“We call on the public to be calm and be vigilant,” Evangelista said.

Unverified reports have circulated in the social media about Kidapaweños who have nCoV are already in town after traveling to China, Hong Kong, and Macao.

The social media was also filled with hearsays about a Chinese trader who traveled to China and is now undergoing medication in the city.

Evangelista assured the public that there is no single case of nCoV in the city. (PNA)