Philippines

In a rapid escalation of measures to prevent the spread of the latest coronavirus, President Rodrigo Duterte placed Luzon as a whole under “enhanced neighborhood quarantine” on Monday, just one day after the quarantine of the general community in Me-tro Manila took effect. The Luzonwide quarantine order came as coronavirus cases dwindled to just two on Monday, but thousands crowded …

The North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) was closed to drivers coming to and from Metro Manila. According to NLEX Corp., only delivery trucks carrying basic goods, frontline workers ‘ vehicles and emergency vehicles were allowed through checkpoints at the south entrances of the Balintawak Toll Plaza, Ciudad de Victoria, Marilao Southbound, Mindanao Toll Plaza. The Bocaue toll plaza was also closed …

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 …