Palace dismisses ‘nationwide lockdown’ rumor

MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang on Monday dismissed rumors that the government will impose a nationwide lockdown to combat the spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

A message circulating online claimed that an alleged “nationwide lockdown” will include include wet markets, and that food will be rationed to the public every three days.

A long queue of people and vehicles has formed as the military officers check every individual’s temperature and identification cards on a checkpoint between the boundary of Caloocan City and San Jose del Monte, Bulacan during the first Monday of the Metro Manila lockdown to contain the spread of the coronavirus. Following the guidelines of the lockdown, the cops have been tasked to keep people from leaving and entering the region, unless they fit the government’s list of exemptions, including workers, health personnel, authorized government officials, and people traveling for medical and humanitarian reasons. INQUIRER PHOTO/ JAM STA ROSA

Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea slammed peddlers of such “fake news” and said they should be “disinfected.”

“Those who spread fake news should have themselves disinfected. They are now moving faster than the virus itself,” Medialdea said in a message to reporters.

“The virus is worried and sees them as competitors and is now looking for them. Watch out!” he added.

The false advisory also stated that the public should stock up for enough food for two weeks.

Last week, President Rodrigo Duterte implemented an enhanced community quarantine in Luzon which will be in effect until April 13, 2020.

The President also placed the entire country under a state of calamity, allowing local government units (LGUs) to access quick response funds during emergency situations.

Confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the country has climbed to 380, with 25 deaths.  Fifteen patients, on the other hand, have fully recovered.

GSG