BANATE, Iloilo—A woman and her two children were placed under self-quarantine in this town after showing flu-like symptoms upon their return from Fujian province, China.

This was confirmed by Dr. Jane Juanico, head of the infectious diseases section of the Department of Health in Region 6.

All three are Chinese nationals. They were in Fujian from Jan. 14 to 29.

"All of them exhibited coughing. 'Yung nanay may slight difficulty of breathing, because of initial information, unknown na may asthma 'yung nanay. 'Yung dalawang bata experienced coughing and runny nose, pero all of them don’t have fever," Juanico said.

She added that the family immediately went to Banate Rural Health Clinic on January 30. They were all provided with medicine and were advised by the town mayor to undergo self-quarantine.

According to Juanico, Mayor Carlos Cabangal Jr. told the family, who owns a business establishment here, to suspend operations while under quarantine.

The municipal health office has assigned personnel to monitor the patients.

As of Saturday afternoon, Juanico said the three already recovered from the flu-like symptoms.

The Department of Health has activated its preparedness action plan following the two confirmed 2019 novel coronavirus cases in the country.

“We are already activating the preparedness and action plan, we are expecting na marami talagang magpapakonsulta. All the hospitals are ready, we advise them to assign isolation rooms for possible surge of patients na may possible novel coronavirus," Juanico said.