DOH unveils COVID-19 emergency hotlines

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Health (DOH) has made public its emergency hotlines for Filipinos seeking guidance or assistance amid the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) threat.

DOH launched the DOH COVID-19 emergency hotlines 02-894-COVID (02-894-26843) and 1555 in partnership with the National Emergency Hotline of the DILG, and PLDT and its wireless subsidiary Smart Communications Inc.

For more information, visit: https://t.co/cEdCA2S6Fj pic.twitter.com/jyodB7TcnX

— Department of Health Philippines (@DOHgovph) March 17, 2020

Those with queries about COVID-19 can call 02-894-COVID (02-894-26843) and 1555, the health department announced.

Callers can ask questions if they suspect they are infected with COVID-19, or request assistance if they have symptoms and/or known exposure to confirmed cases or patients under investigation.

Information collected from emergency calls is then transmitted to the COVID-19 Emergency Operations Center and other relevant agencies for immediate facilitation and response.

Calls to 02-894-COVID will be free of charge and can be reached 24/7.

Smart and PLDT subscribers will also be able to use the 1555 hotline for free. Subscribers from other networks can access the 1555 hotline “once technical adjustments are completed.”

As of date, the Philippines has 193 cases of COVID-19, of whom, 14 patients have died while seven patients were able to recover.

President Rodrigo Duterte earlier placed the entire country under a state of calamity due to the growing COVID-19 threat. He also placed the whole island of Luzon under an “enhanced community quarantine” to further contain the spread of the virus.

Edited by MUF