Philippines locks down Manila to fight coronavirus, Filipino diplomat is first coronavirus case at UN headquarters

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte (Source: AFP/VNA). Sketched by the Pan Pacific Agency.

MANILA/UN, Mar 13, 2020, VNA, PhilStar. Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte on March 12 announced a halt on domestic land, sea and air travel to and from Manila, as well as a launch of community quarantine measures in what he called a “lockdown” of the capital to prevent the spread of the SARS-CoV-2, Vietnam News Agency reported.

The leader approved a resolution to allow a raft of containment measures including bans on mass gatherings, a month of school closure and quarantining in communities where infection cases are detected, and stopping domestic travel in and out of Manila.

The move was made after the country confirmed the first case on March 7. So far, the Philippines has recorded two fatalities due to the acute respiratory disease caused by the virus (COVID-19).

President Duterte will also undergo testing for the virus because two cases tested positive for the virus had joined meetings with the country’s Senate lawmakers and government officials.

A Philippine diplomat in New York has tested positive for the new coronavirus in the first recorded case at United Nations headquarters in the city, diplomatic sources said on Thursday, PhilStar reported.

The diplomat, who had last visited the UN on Monday, showed symptoms of flu the following day and saw a doctor.

“She got the call today that she tested positive for COVID-19,” said a letter from the Philippines mission.

“As of today, the Philippine mission is in lockdown, and all personnel are instructed to self-quarantine,” said the letter obtained by AFP.

The diplomat works at the UN General Assembly’s Sixth Committee, which deals with legal matters.

About 3,000 people are employed at the towering riverfront UN headquarters. Numerous other diplomats from the 193 UN member countries come and go between their own missions in the area and the Manhattan UN complex.

The Philippines has confirmed 52 cases of COVID-19 illness. There have been more than 1,600 cases in the United States.

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