Duterte tells Pinoys: Stay home, ‘wag matigas ang ulo’

MANILA, Philippines – President Rodrigo Duterte stressed on Tuesday everyone has a big role to play in fighting the COVID-19 outbreak.

“I now call on every Filipino to participate in this war by following the guidelines. Nothing is more important that your cooperation,” Duterte said in his latest address to the nation on Tuesday evening.

“I repeat: Stay home, ‘wag matigas ang ulo. The outcome of this war depends largely on you as well,” he added.

Luzon remains under an enhanced community quarantine due to the rising number of COVID-19 cases, forcing the cancelation of work except for frontline services like grocery crews, hospital staff, healthcare workers and other essential service providers.

But despite the reminder of government for people to stay at home, several individuals have insisted on leaving their homes to work, especially those who rely on daily wages, who would otherwise be left with nothing with which to buy food.

Local government units have distributed relief items, but some citizens have complained that the good were not enough to feed their families.

As of Tuesday, the Department of Health said that there were already 552 confirmed cases in the Philippines, 35 of whom have already died and 20 have recovered.

READ: Luzon now under ‘enhanced community quarantine’ – Palace

READ: DOH: Coronavirus cases in PH leap to 501

Worldwide, over 370,000 COVID-19 cases have been recorded, of whom 16,228 have died and 97,677 have recovered.

The COVID-19 is a respiratory disease caused by the novel coronavirus that first emerged in Wuhan City in Hubei province in China in late 2019.

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

The coronavirus is a family of viruses with surfaces having a crown-like appearance. The viruses are named for the spikes on their surfaces.

/atm