Dec. 31, 2019

The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that it has been notified by China of 41 cases of pneumonia of unknown origin

Jan. 1, 2020

Authorities close Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market, said to be the source of the outbreak

Jan. 7

The novel coronavirus (nCoV) SARS-CoV-2 is identified as the cause of the disease

Jan. 11

The first nCoV death is reported in China

Jan. 13

The first case of nCoV outside China is reported in Thailand

Jan. 23

The city of Wuhan is placed under quarantine, with Hubei province following days later

Jan. 30

The Philippines reports its first nCoV case, a 38-year-old foreign national who had traveled from Wuhan and Hong Kong. Patients 2 and 3 are also reported on this date The WHO declares the outbreak a global public health emergency of international concern after cases are reported in five of the six WHO regions in a month

Feb. 2

The country’s Patient 2, said to be the husband of Patient 1, becomes the first nCoV fatality outside mainland China. Patient 1 recovers from the disease

Feb. 11

The WHO names the disease “COVID-19”: “’CO’ stands for ‘corona,’ ‘VI’ for ‘virus’ and ‘D’ for ‘disease,’ while ‘19’ was for the year, as the outbreak was first identified on December 31”

Mar. 5

The country reports two COVID-19 patients, the first locals to contract the disease

Mar. 7

Following the local transmission, the COVID-19 alert system is raised to Code Red Sublevel 1, a “preemptive call to ensure national and local government and public and private healthcare providers can prepare for possible increase in suspected and confirmed cases”

Mar. 8

The country is placed under a “state of public health emergency”

Mar. 11

The WHO declares the outbreak a pandemic, saying it had “never before seen a pandemic sparked by a coronavirus. This is the first pandemic caused by a coronavirus…”

Mar. 12

Code Red Sublevel 2 is raised in the Philippines, indicating “sustained community transmission” 

Metro Manila is placed under a monthlong “community quarantine” from Mar. 15 to Apr. 14. All establishments except for those providing basic goods and services, such as banks, restaurants, supermarkets and pharmacies, are shut down

Mar. 14

COVID-19 cases in the Philippines are at 111, up from 98 the previous day

Mar. 16

The whole of Luzon is placed under “enhanced community quarantine” (ECQ)

Mar. 17

The country is placed under a state of calamity for six months “unless earlier lifted or extended as circumstances may warrant”

Mar. 19

The Lopez Group donates P100 million to launch ABS-CBN's "Pantawid ng Pag-ibig,” a fundraising initiative in partnership with local government officials and private firms

Mar. 24

The WHO recommends using the phrase “physical distancing” instead of “social distancing” to emphasize that people must “still remain connected” The Philippines reports 552 confirmed COVID-19 cases

Mar. 28

The country’s COVID-19 cases top the 1,000 mark with 1,075

In addition to the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine, four hospitals are approved to test for COVID-19: Baguio General Hospital, San Lazaro Hospital, Southern Philippines Medical Center and Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center

Mar. 31

2,084 COVID-19 infections are recorded

Apr. 2

Globally, the number of confirmed cases hits 1 million. More than 51,000 people have died and almost 209,000 were able to recover. Italy, Spain and the US account for the greatest number of deaths

Apr. 3

The country now has a total of eight testing centers following the accreditation of the UP National Institutes of Health, Lung Center of the Philippines, Bicol Public Health Laboratory and Western Visayas Medical Center 

Meanwhile, the Philippines’ COVID-19 cases reach 3,018

Apr. 7

The ECQ in Luzon is extended until midnight of Apr. 30