Duterte’s visit to Boracay postponed

MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte’s scheduled visit to Boracay on Thursday was postponed to a later date, Malacañang announced Wednesday.

“In light of the recent developments and after careful review of the situation concerning the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in the country, President Rodrigo Roa Duterte will not proceed to Boracay Island on Thursday, March 12, as earlier scheduled,” Presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo said in a statement.

Duterte’s visit to Boracay will be moved to a later date which has yet to be determined, Panelo said.

Senators Sherwin Gatchalian and Nancy Binay earlier said they will place themselves under self-quarantine after interacting with a resource person who later tested positive for the virus.

Other officials who have gone into self-quarantine were Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez, Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade and Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso.

To date, there are ready 49 confirmed cases of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in the country.

A second fatality due to COVID-19 was also recorded Wednesday night by the Department of Health (DOH).

The International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses named the novel coronavirus as SARS-CoV-2.

The virus causes mild symptoms such as fever and cough for most people but can cause serious illness such as pneumonia for others, especially older adults and people with existing health problems.

Coronavirus is a family of viruses, whose surfaces have a crown-like appearance. The viruses are named for the spikes on their surfaces.