Coronavirus in Philippines — live updates, cases, and news
Updates on the coronavirus situation in Philippines.
Coronavirus cases and fatalities in Philippines
The number is based on confirmed diagnostic tests. It is very likely that the true number of COVID-19 cases is higher as many cases are asymptomatic.
New COVID-19 cases and fatalities per day in Philippines
This is a good indicator of “flattening the curve” — when there is a steady decreasing trend, it is an indicator that the spread of the disease is slowing down.
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What is COVID-19?
Coronavirus (COVID-19) is a respiratory disease which has now spread to the United States.
It is mild for most people, but can cause severe illness and result in death for some. Older adults and people with chronic medical conditions, such as heart disease or diabetes, have the greatest risk of becoming severely ill.
There is no vaccine and no medications approved to treat COVID-19 at this time.
How does it spread?
COVID-19 spreads from person to person, mainly through coughs and sneezes of infected people or between people who are in close contact.
Symptoms
If you suspect you are infected with COVID-19, call ahead before visiting a medical facility so they can prepare. Do not go to an emergency room with mild symptoms.
The symptoms of COVID-19 are:
- fever
- cough
- shortness of breath
Coronavirus in Philippines News:
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Coronavirus in Philippines Timeline:
The Philippines was one of the first countries outside of China to suffer an outbreak. The first confirmed case was reported on January 30. Surprisingly, a 5-year-old boy was also one of the first confirmed cases.
After a month of reporting no new cases, on March 6, the DOH announced two cases consisting of two Filipinos, and thus began the second wave of infections.
Cases involving foreigners emerged in early March 2020, and despite several measures which included travel bans, the disease started to spread in the country.
President Duterte declared “Code Red Sub-Level 2” on March 12, issuing a partial lockdown on Metro Manila, where most cases were reported. The entire of Luzon was placed under an “enhanced community quarantine” — or a total lockdown. Less than a week later, on March 17, Duterte declared the Philippines under a state of calamity for a tentative period of six months.
The Philippines has opened new facilities to conduct confirmatory testing: the Southern Philippines Medical Center in Davao City, Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center in Cebu City, Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center in Benguet, and San Lazaro Hospital in Manila began conducting tests.
In April 7, President Duterte extended the Luzon enhanced community quarantine until April 30. As of April 17, the Philippines is successful in flattening the curve, reducing the viral disease’ reproduction number to 0.65 from 1.5, which means that the average number of people a person can infect decreased from more than one to less than one.
The government has announced a PHP 27.1 billion fiscal package (about 0.15 percent of 2019 GDP), which comprises the following measures: additional purchase of COVID 19 testing kits and health equipment; social protection for vulnerable workers; and support to the tourism and agriculture sectors.
