MANILA - The Department of Health (DOH) is verifying a possible third 2019 Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) case in the Philippines, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said Tuesday.

“There is that but we will give the report tomorrow because we have a Cabinet meeting later,” Duque told reporters when asked about reports that another person in the country is infected with the new coronavirus strain.

“Just 2 [confirmed cases] and one for verification,” he said.

Duque said he was “not sure” if the suspected third case was also a tourist from Wuhan, China, the epicenter of the virus.

A male Chinese tourist from Wuhan who contracted the virus died in Manila last Saturday, marking the first novel coronavirus-related death outside China.

His companion, a female tourist also from Wuhan, was diagnosed to have the virus that has killed over 400 people (all in China except 1) and infected some 20,000 others worldwide.

The government is also monitoring 105 other individuals who may have been exposed to the virus.