简体中文
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte said Monday night the total number of confirmed novel coronavirus (COVID-19) cases in the Philippines has risen to 24, ordering the suspension of classes in all schools in the capital city of Manila.
Duterte told a news conference that the four additional COVID-19 cases were reported in Metro Manila and the outlying Bulacan province. He did not provide more details. He said there is no epidemic yet in the country despite the "galloping" number of cases.
Duterte said he has ordered the suspension of classes at all level schools in Metro Manila for four days beginning on Tuesday.
Duterte declared a state public health emergency earlier on Monday after the Department of Health confirmed the local COVID-19 transmission in the country.
Declaring a state of public health emergency will facilitate mobilization of resources, ease processes, including procurement of critical logistics and supplies, and intensifying reporting to quell the spread of the disease.
In an earlier press conference, Assistant Health Secretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said the cases of the COVID-19 disease doubled overnight, and the cases were mostly Filipinos with no travel history.
Health Secretary of the Philippines Francisco Duque said the Department of Health has deployed additional surveillance teams to expedite contact tracing of the new cases.
The increase of COVID-19 cases prompted many private and public schools in Metro Manila to suspend classes to minimize the possibility of local transmission amid the sudden jump in the number of cases.
Organizers of a number of scheduled concerts and a beauty pageant also canceled the shows. A popular daily noontime variety show said they will temporarily stop admitting live audience in their shows.
