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Philippines Reports First Case Of Coronavirus

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The outbreak of coronavirus (COVID-19) has been reported in the Philippines after a 62-year-old man with no travel history tested positive for the disease.

The Health Secretary Francisco Duque said that the man was admitted to hospital with severe pneumonia on March 1, and tested positive for Covid-19 on Thursday.

He said that the patient has no known history of travel outside of the country but another Filipino lawyer of age 48-year-old  has also been tested positive for Covid-19 after returning from a trip to Tokyo.

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He said further that both patients are now confined at a state-run hospital in the state and contact tracing is being done for the two cases and samples have already been collected from close contacts.

He added that the Department of Health is also coordinating with local government to identify persons who have interacted with the two patients.

Prior to the two new cases, three confirmed infections in the Philippines involved Chinese visitors, including one who died from the disease.

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Duque concluded that the recent developments are significant, but they are prepared to respond to its potential consequences.