PUERTO PRINCESA - Three foreigners have tested negative for the 2019-nCoV, while their companion remains under observation after showing symptoms of the SARS-like illness.

The four persons who were observed included a Brazilian family of 3, who were isolated at the Ospital ng Palawan last Friday after showing flu-like symptoms following a recent trip to Wuhan, China, the epicenter of a fast-spreading disease that has killed dozens and infected more than a thousand people.

• Brazilian family from Wuhan in Palawan hospital for coronavirus symptoms

The family, a couple and their 10-year-old girl, came in for a checkup at the rural health unit of El Nido. Upon initial check, the child had a fever while the father had a sore throat.

The parents were cleared Tuesday while their child is still confined. A 6-year-old girl from Taiwan who was referred to the Ospital ng Palawan for experiencing symptoms of respiratory illness, was also cleared by the hospital.

"The parents are asymptomatic. They just fall under the 2 out of 4 criteria so they would manage 'yung home quarantine na 14 days, nakakailang days pa lang [sila] sa atin. Yung Taiwanese discharged already Saturday evening kasi ang picture niya bacterial," said Dr. Audie Cipriano, the hospital's chief of medical professional staff.

The doctor said the child is active despite showing signs of symptoms like cough and colds.

"Ang blood picture niya viral. Mababa ang WBC (white blood cell) and increased ang lymphocytes, so meaning viral. Yung bata is active, afebrile, wala namang complaint," he said, adding they are just waiting for the results of the tests done on the child.