Philippines steps up efforts to keep millions at home

Manila (dpa), Mar 18, 2020 - Philippine authorities on Wednesday stepped up efforts to keep millions of Filipinos in their homes, as health authorities warned the number of people infected with the coronavirus could peak at 75,000 in three months if stringent measures were not applied.  

Health Assistant Secretary Maria Rosario Vergeire noted that global data shows one person can easily infect two others in a single interaction, while stressing the need for the public to follow a lockdown imposed by the government on the main island of Luzon.  “This means that in two to three months, [the number of infected people] can reach a peak of 75,000,” she said. “We can prevent the number from reaching this peak ... if only we can implement stringent measures such as social distancing.”  

The Department of Health reported on Wednesday 15 new cases of Covid-19 infections and three additional deaths, bringing the total number of cases in the country to 202 and the death toll to 17.