Philippines: President declares public health emergency due to coronavirus March 8 /update 8

Government declares public health emergency due to coronavirus (COVID-19) on March 8; further spread of COVID-19 possible over the near term
Read all related news alert(s):
Philippines: Authorities extend COVID-19 restriction through December 31 /update 39
Philippines: Authorities extend COVID-19 restrictions through November 30 /update 38
Philippines: Authorities extend partial COVID-19 restrictions in Manila until October 31 /update 37
Philippines: Authorities tighten restrictions in Iloilo City until October 9 /update 36
Philippines: Metro Manila to remain under general community quarantine until September 30 /update 35
Philippines: Over 200,000 COVID-19 cases confirmed as of August 28 /update 34
Philippines: Authorities to impose stricter lockdown in Metro Manila and surrounding areas from August 4 /update 33
Philippines: Over 100,000 COVID-19 cases confirmed as of August 2 /update 32
Philippines: Authorities tighten lockdown measures in Lipa from August 1 /update 31
Philippines: Authorities extend restrictions in Manila and other areas until August 15 /update 30
Philippines: Partial reopening of certain businesses as of August 1 /update 29
Philippines: New measures to be introduced at Francisco Bangoy International Airport from July 20 amid COVID-19 outbreak /update 28
Philippines: Authorities impose two-week lockdown in Navotas July 16 /update 27
Philippines: Authorities record largest daily rise in COVID-19 deaths July 13 /update 26
Philippines: Authorities lift ban on non-essential travel abroad July 7 /update 25
Philippines: Authorities extend GCQ and lockdown in Manila and Cebu City until July 15 /update 24
Philippines: Authorities extend COVID-19 restrictions on June 16 /update 23
Philippines: Authorities ease lockdown in Metro Manila from June 1 /update 22
Philippines: Philippine Airlines to resume flights from June 1 with restrictions /update 21
Philippines: Aviation authorities announce flights will remain canceled through May 31 /update 20
Philippines: Modified enhanced community quarantine to be imposed in high risk areas from May 16 /update 19
Philippines: Manila’s Ninoy Aquino International Airport (MNL) to resume international flight arrivals from May 11 /update 18
Philippines: Airports close to all commercial flights May 3 /update 17
Philippines: Airlines extend flight suspensions through mid-May /update 16
Philippines: Enhanced quarantine measures extended until May 15 /update 15
Philippines: Cebu City (Cebu province) authorities extend COVID-19 lockdown until May 15 /update 14
Philippines: Rizal province enters lockdown April 6 /update 13
Philippines: Lockdown on Luzon extended to April 30 /update 12
Philippines: Additional restrictions implemented on Luzon Island March 16 /update 11
Philippines: Curfews imposed throughout National Capital Region amid COVID-19 outbreak as of March 15 /update 10
Philippines: Authorities to lock down Manila amid COVID-19 outbreak March 12 /update 9
Philippines: Government implements travel restrictions for South Korea February 26 /update 7
Philippines: Government eases travel restrictions February 21 /update 6
Philippines: Philippines lifts Taiwan travel ban February 14 /update 5
Philippines: Cebu Pacific and Philippine Airlines suspend flights to Taiwan from February 11 /update 4
Philippines: Airlines cancel flights to China, Hong Kong, and Macau February 3 /update 3
Philippines: Government temporarily bars travelers from mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau February 2 /update 2
Philippines: First case of coronavirus 2019-nCoV confirmed January 30 /update 1
Event
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte declared a public health emergency on Sunday, March 8, after the Department of Health (DOH) raised its coronavirus (COVID-19) alert system to code red sub-level 1 (second highest level) following confirmation of the first case of local transmission of COVID-19 in the country.
A travel entry ban remains in place for individuals who have traveled from or transited through China, Hong Kong, Macau, and North Gyeongsang province in South Korea (including Daegu city and Cheongdo County) within the last 14 days prior to arrival in the Philippines.
As of Monday, March 9, the DOH has confirmed 24 cases of the virus nationwide. Further international spread of the virus is to be expected in the coming days and weeks.
Context
The first case of COVID-19 was reported on December 31 and the source of the outbreak has been linked to a wet market in Wuhan (Hubei province, China). Human-to-human and patient-to-medical staff transmission of the virus have been confirmed. Many of the associated fatalities have been due to pneumonia caused by the virus.
Cases of the virus have been confirmed in numerous countries and territories worldwide. Virus-screening and quarantining measures are being implemented at airports worldwide, as well as extensive travel restrictions. On February 28, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared that the risk of spread and the risk of impact of the virus is "very high" at the global level.
Pneumonia symptoms include dry cough, chest pain, fever, and labored breathing. Pneumonia can be contagious and can be transmitted from human to human. The influenza virus, or the flu, is a common cause of viral pneumonia.
Advice
Measures adopted by local authorities evolve quickly, and are usually effective immediately. Depending on the evolution of the outbreak in other countries, authorities are likely to modify, at very short notice, the list of countries whose travelers are subject to border control measures or entry restrictions upon their arrival to the territory in question. It is advised to postpone non-essential travel due to the risk that travelers may be refused entry or be subject to quarantine upon their arrival or during their stay.
To reduce the risk of transmission, travelers are advised to abide by the following measures:
- Frequently clean hands by applying an alcohol-based hand rub or washing with soap and water.
- When coughing and sneezing, cover mouth and nose with a flexed elbow or tissue; if used, throw the tissue away immediately and wash hands.
- If experiencing a fever, cough, and difficulty breathing, seek medical care urgently and share your previous travel history with your health care provider.
In the case that symptoms suggestive of respiratory illness emerge either during or after travel, travelers are encouraged to seek medical attention and share their travel history with their health care provider. Travelers returning from China, South Korea, Italy, and Iran who develop symptoms of pneumonia are advised to call emergency services before going to the doctor or hospital to prevent the potential spread of the disease.
Copyright and Disclaimer
GardaWorld is the owner or licensee of all intellectual property rights in the material presented on this website. All such rights are reserved.
The use of this website and its material is subject to the Terms of Use and accordingly you must not use any content from this website for commercial or other analogous purposes without our consent,
including but not limited to any deep-linking or framing in order to copy, distribute, display or monitor any portion of the website.
If you have any questions or are interested in distributing any content from this website, Contact us for more details.