5 March 2020
The Philippine Embassy (which also covers several island nations and territories in the Caribbean region), and the seven Philippine Consulates General in the United States of America (in Agana, Chicago, Honolulu, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, and San Francisco) are closely monitoring the incidence of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in their areas of jurisdiction.
As of today, 5 March 2020, sixteen states have reported a total of 152 confirmed and presumptive positive COVID-19 cases: Arizona (2), California (51), Florida (3), Georgia (2), Illinois (4), Massachusetts (2), Nebraska (13), New Hampshire (2), New York (11), North Carolina (1), Oregon (2), Rhode Island (2), Texas (11), Utah (1), Washington (44), and Wisconsin (1). There have been eleven deaths in the US that are attributed to COVID-19 – 10 from Washington state and 1 from California. Presumptive positives are cases that tested positive in public health laboratories but are still awaiting confirmation from the US Centers for Disease Control (CDC).
The total includes 45 repatriated US citizens from the Diamond Princess cruise ship, which docked in Yokohama, Japan, as well as 3 citizens repatriated from Wuhan, China.
According to the CDC, more cases of COVID-19 are likely to be identified in the coming days, including more cases in the United States. Continued person-to-person spread is also a likely occurrence.
In the past few days, the Caribbean Public Health Agency has likewise upgraded the risk of transmission of COVID-19 “from moderate to high” as transmission of the virus has been reported in territories with direct flights to Caribbean States.
In view of this, the Embassy and Consulates General are undertaking the following activities: – regular reporting to the Department of Foreign Affairs
– coordinating with relevant authorities in the US and the Caribbean
– touching base with Filipino community leaders in the US and the Caribbean
– keeping in touch with cruise lines operating in the US and the Caribbean
– updating members of the public on the Philippines’ travel restrictions
– taking steps to lower the risk of transmission among consular clients and personnel
We strongly urge our fellow Filipinos to heed the advice of health agencies, including frequent hand washing and regular disinfecting of frequently touched objects and surfaces; avoiding contact with people who are sick; staying home when sick; and covering a cough and sneeze with a tissue then throwing the tissue in the trash. ###
STATEMENT ON COVID-19
