Philippines

The Department of Health (DOH) has reported 45 new confirmed cases of coronavirus disease in 2019 (COVID-19), taking the country’s number of cases to 187. The DOH has yet to provide further information on the 45 new confirmed cases. So far the number of deaths associated with COVID-19 has remained at 12. Meanwhile, another patient who has recovered from the …

The Philippine Airlines (PAL) declared on Tuesday the cancelation of all its domestic flights under the enhanced community quarantine now being imposed on the entire island of Luzon by the government. The company stated that in compliance with the Enhanced Community Quarantine measure taken by the Philippine Government over the Luzon Region, including Metro Manila, ALL DOMESTIC FLIGHTS of Philippine …

President Rodrigo Duterte is expected to make new pronouncements as he meets anew in the country on Monday afternoon with the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) on emerging infectious diseases, military and police officials following a continuous increase in cases of coronavirus disease (COVID-19). In a bid to contain the virus, Duterte approved the imposition of Community quarantine on Metro Manila. …

It’s like across between Holy Week and a transport attack said a coffee shop employee at BF Homes Parañaque, describing the unusual silence that came down on the city as a police force, backed by the military and the coast guard, closed Sunday’s access to Metro Manila, enforcing a month-long quarantine that officials hope would curb the the cases of …

Owing to the lack of face masks and other personal protective equipment (PPE) in hospitals, front-line health workers are themselves constantly at risk of contracting the new coronavirus. A doctor who talked to the inquirer on condition of anonymity, Jose R. Reyes Memorial Medical Center said staff members had been purchasing their own face masks after supplies ran out. The …

Since human coronaviruses will potentially remain infectious for up to nine days even on inanimate surfaces, an environmental health group on Monday called on consumers of disposable face masks to properly dispose of them. As the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continues to threaten the world, Jove Benosa, who serves as EcoWaste Coalition’s Zero Waste Campaigner, enumerated the potential implications of inadequate …

Notwithstanding predictions of slower domestic growth in 2020 as the COVID-19 pandemic is taking its toll on the global economy, there is no stopping this year’s Philippines from rising to upper middle-income country status, the country’s lead economist said. Pernia, who heads the National Economic and Development Authority (Neda) state planning agency, said an realistic 3-4 percent increase in gross …

On Saturday the Department of Health (DOH) announced two more deaths from the 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19), raising the death count to eight. The DOH said in its statement the two additional COVID-19 deaths were on top of the one that was confirmed earlier in the day. As of this writing, no other specifics are yet available on the two …

Metro Manila city magistrates released a resolution calling for a temporary closure of shopping malls, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) said Saturday. MMDA General Manager Jojo Garcia said at a press conference that the Metro Manila Council released a resolution asking all local governments in the National Capital Region (NCR) to issue temporary shutdown orders for malls and other …

As part of community quarantine steps to curb the spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19), the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority will enforce a curfew within the National Capital Area. MMDA General Manager Jojo Garcia announced at a press conference on Saturday that all Metro Manila mayors agreed to issue a resolution to impose a curfew from 8 p.m. At 5 a.m., …