Philippines

Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez cautioned retailers of face masks and disinfectants against manipulating the novel coronavirus scare and rising prices as customers flock to shops in the midst of the virus threat. Following Department of Health (DOH) confirmation that a Chinese woman was testing positive for the novel coronavirus, people began flocking pharmacies to buy face masks and disinfectants, causing …

President Rodrigo Duterte has placed a ban on tourists from China’s Hubei province and from other Chinese areas affected by the novel coronavirus (nCoV) Panelo released the statement a day after the Health Department (DOH) announced the country’s first nCoV event— a 38-year-old woman from Wuhan City, China. Wuhan is a town in province Hubei. Less than a day after …

Presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo stated that President Rodrigo Duterte’s ban on Cabinet members traveling to the United States includes personal and family trips. Panelo said Secretary of Foreign Affairs Teodoro Locsin Jr. is being exempted from the ban. One day after Duterte imposed the ban on travel to the US, Panelo revealed the specifics of the embargo. Duterte confirmed that …

Further patients have been referred to the San Lazaro Hospital for screening to decide if they will fall under the category of individual under investigation (PUI) for suspected novel coronavirus (nCoV) infection. San Lazaro Hospital spokeswoman Dr. Ferdinand de Guzman said on Thursday that the hospital was providing further referrals to screen patients based on nCoV checklist from the Department …

According to the hospital’s director on Wednesday, a Chinese national under investigation for suspected novel coronavirus infection has died in San Lazaro Hospital. San Lazaro Hospital director Dr. Edmundo Lopez stated at a press briefing with officials from the Department of Health that it was not known if the 29-year-old male patient died of nCoV. Lopez said the cause of …

Nadine Lustre’s camp said it’s ready to take on VIVA Artists Agency in a court battle — after the management company warned of  litigation against the actress for suspected contract breach. Lustre’s camp earlier said that the 26-year-old agreed to part with VIVA, citing Article 1920 of the Philippines Civil Code on the principal’s right to terminate the organization under …

Amid the turmoil of Taal Volcano, an official from the Batangas Provincial Government acknowledged that the LGU is mulling over the cost of food and relocation expenses for nearly one million displaced evacuees-which could exceed P200 million per day. There is a significant increase in the number of evacuees who get sick in Batangas, some suffering from cough, colds and …

The Philippines is suspending all flights to the country from Wuhan, China, following an outbreak of the Chinese city’s 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV). Advertising This was a decision reached by the Civil and Aeronautics Board, the Department of Health of Quarantine, the Department of Transportation, the Philippine Civil Aviation Authority and certain airline companies to prevent the spread of the …