‘Sans vaccine, state of calamity to be extended’

MANILA, Philippines — President Duterte is likely to extend the nationwide state of calamity as no vaccine for the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has been developed yet, Malacañang said yesterday.

Duterte placed the entire country under a state of calamity through Proclamation No. 929 issued on March 16.

The declaration will last for six months “unless earlier lifted or extended as circumstances may warrant.”

“As long as there is no vaccine, as long as there is no cure for COVID-19, the state of health emergency will most likely remain,” presidential spokesman Harry Roque said at a press briefing yesterday when asked whether Duterte would extend the national calamity declaration.

Proclamation 929 also imposed a lockdown or “enhanced community quarantine” throughout Luzon to contain the pandemic. The virus has so far infected more than 261,000 people in the Philippines, the highest in Southeast Asia.

The state of calamity declaration allowed the national and local governments to access their quick response funds to support pandemic response measures.