MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang on Thursday warned that individuals hoarding basic and key commodities amid the 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) menace will be arrested. Panelo earlier called on the public to refrain from panic-buying and advised to “buy only what they need” following reports of hoarding. President Rodrigo Duterte earlier declared a state of public health emergency amid the spike in COVID-19 cases in the Philippines. As of Wednesday, DOH said there are 49 confirmed cases of COVID-19, a respiratory disease caused by the novel coronavirus that first emerged in Wuhan, China. GSGADVERTISEMENTFor more news about the novel coronavirus click here.

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer March 12, 2020 00:45 UTC