BREAKING: Baguio City will be under a 1 month community quarantine beginning today, March 16, 2020.

Mayor Benjamin Magalong ordered Baguio City to be put into community quarantine within a month effective today because of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

It is expected that a formal copy of the order will be issued for the guidelines of the quarantined community.

Meanwhile, the class suspension was extended to all levels in Baguio until April 12, 2020.

Congress Will Honor Cordilleran Who Volunteered to Be Sent to Wuhan, China Julia(@Julia) Feb 27, 2020

What's the difference between Lockdown and Community Quarantine according to DILG?

Lockdown

Stay at home. The government will provide the basic needs. Relief goods will be brought to every home.

Community Quarantine

You can freely go outside, perform your normal job, public transportation and services won't halt.

What is COVID-19?

COVID-19 is a disease caused by a coronavirus called SARS-CoV-2, which is associated with the virus that causes Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome but is not fatal, with a mortality rate of around three percent.

According to the WHO, only 80 percent of patients experience "mild disease" and eventually recover. It added that some 14 percent suffer from severe illness while five percent are critically ill.

The disease spreads to small drops from the nose or mouth when people are infected with the virus or cough.

To prevent infection, authorities encourage people to perform regular handwashing, cover mouth and nose during coughing and sneezing, and avoid close contact with those who exhibit respiratory symptoms.

Commonly reported symptoms of COVID-19 are fever, dry cough and shortness of breath. Those with serious and critical symptoms should call the Department of Health at (02) 8-651-7800 local 1149-1150.

Coronavirus Update (March 16, 2020 - 2pm (PST)

Coronavirus Cases: 169,673

Deaths: 6,518

Recovered: 77,776

This story is breaking and will be updated.