First local case of COVID-19 detected in Philippines

Friday, 6 March 2020 10:12

The Philippines has announced its first local case of the coronavirus.

According to Health Secretary Francisco Duque, the 62-year-old Filipino man contracted the disease without travelling out of the country recently.

Duque reiterated that the absence of travel history indicates that it is a local case, bringing the total number of COVID-19 cases in the country to five, with one death recorded so far.

Another 48-year-old Filipino man tested positive for the virus after returning from his trip to Tokyo.

The Department of Health in the country is currently tracking down people who came in contact with both men to help contain the spread of the virus.

More from International News

One dead, several injured in Iranian attack on Manama building

Bahrain’s Ministry of Interior said one person was killed and several others injured in an Iranian attack on a residential building in the capital, Manama.
Trump says war could be over soon, as Iran rallies behind new leader

US President Donald Trump on Monday predicted the war in the Middle East could be over soon, even as many Iranians staged a show of loyalty to new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei in a sign that it was not prepared to back down any time soon.
Saudi Arabia, Jordan condemn attack on UAE consulate in Iraqi Kurdistan

Saudi Arabia and Jordan have strongly condemned the recent attack targeting the UAE Consulate General in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq.
Iran names Mojtaba Khamenei as new supreme leader

Iran has named Mojtaba Khamenei to succeed his father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, as supreme leader as the week-old US-Israeli war with Iran pushed oil above $100 a barrel.