Philippines Adds 12 New COVID-19 Cases... "President Duterte Tests Negative"

Rodrigo Duterte, President of the Philippines. Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Moon Hyewon] The Philippines reported 12 new confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19), bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 64.

According to local media on the 14th, the Philippine Department of Health announced that 12 people, including 4 Filipino nationals, tested positive for COVID-19 the previous day. The cumulative number of confirmed cases rose to 64.

Following the declaration of a public health emergency on the 9th, President Rodrigo Duterte ordered the closure of all schools in Metro Manila, the capital region with a population of about 13 million, on the 10th.

Then, as the cumulative death toll from COVID-19 infections increased to 5 on the 12th, the alert level was raised to Red Alert Level 2, banning large gatherings and deciding to lock down Manila for 30 days starting from the 15th.

Additionally, after some cabinet members, including the Finance Minister, were quarantined due to contact with confirmed cases, the presidential palace was closed, disinfected, and underwent thorough COVID-19 testing.

Christopher Go, a senator and close aide to President Duterte, stated, "President Duterte tested negative for COVID-19."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.