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.

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte (Source: AFP/VNA)

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) and 53 infection cases.

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.

Source: VNA