AN archipelago of 100 million people and 7,000 islands is witnessing the rapid proliferation of cases of the Coronavirus. The Philippines are preparing to isolate the entire metropolitan area of Manila with its 12 million inhabitants for 30 days.
The Department of Health has announced that there are 34 new confirmed cases, bringing the total number to 111 with an escalation from last Thursday, and at least 8 victims. Figures are still far from creating an alarm, but in the case of Italy, where the lives of many filipino migrants, to put in alarm the authorities, and from Sunday at midnight the great metropolis will not be achieved, nor will you be able to leave except in cases of emergency as the workers and the movements “essential” supplies and medical teams.
The mayors of the various cities that form the area of the capital have also voted for the decision to impose the curfew from 8 pm to 5 am in the morning after. The area is completely surrounded by checkpoints of the army.
To make the cost of this situation will be especially the poor, of the many favelas that every day, face a long trip to the city to make ends meet and afford at least a meal to the family. The imposed isolation will also be forced to live in many nuclei in small houses and hygienically often unhealthy.
One of the patients who died came from one of these villages, and theoretically had had no contact with anyone stranger or potential carrier.
Without providing more details of the new cases, the director of the Department of public health has reported that the Rizal Medical Center in Pasig City part of the staff has been exposed to the virus and expect many more updates. Those who will travel outside Metro Manila, even if it has no symptoms, is invited to get in isolation for 14 days. “It is not, however, block the total, an official said – but only a quarantine in the community”
To deny it in part, and to assume the measures even more the series, it was, however, the same philippine president Rodrigo Duterte. Speaking of the risks of a total blockade of Manila, he joked about those who say “we don’t want to use that term”. “It is because they are afraid to call it a block, but a block,” he said.
Among other initiatives, the government has also extended the suspension of lessons at the school up to the 12th of April, prohibited mass meetings and encouraged the practice of remote work. Anticipating the critics by that time know his attempts to strengthen the power of the executive, Duterte wanted to explain that the measures are not the result of “a power struggle” and there is “no state of war.” It is “only to protect you, and defend you from Covid-19.”.
“The Republic will fight always in defense of the freedom of information, to its readers and to all those who have at heart the principles of democracy and civil coexistence”
Carlo Verdelli SUBSCRIBERS TO REPUBLIC © Reproduction reserved Today on Bans, questions and answers: here’s what you can do and what not the weight of the cuts, the Chaos of the masks, we serve 90 million per month. That is why now, are unobtainable Francesco Boccia: “No more cuts to health care, this crisis will change the world” Coronavirus, there was once Europe
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