MANILA, Philippines — The alumni association of the Philippine Military Academy postponed this year’s homecoming as a precaution against the deadly novel coronavirus (2019-
nCoV).
The annual event, originally set on February 15, would
be moved to February 22, the PMA Alumni Association, Inc. said.
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According to the PMAAAI board, the postponement is “in deference to health and public safety concerns regarding
nCoV.”
PMAAAI added they reached the decision after consultations with the academy’s superintendent Vice Admiral Allan Cusi and Baguio City Mayor Benjie
Magalong.
Even before the announcement, the PMA campus in Fort Del Pilar has been closed to visitors.
The Baguio City government has not imposed a lockdown for tourists but it canceled events “that would attract large crowds in the next three weeks.”
The new coronavirus has spread to
more than 20 countries, with the death toll in China rising 560 people.
Latest figure from the Department of Health showed that 133 persons in the country are under watch for possible 2019-
nCoV infection.
DOH confirmed Wednesday the third case of
nCoV in the Philippines—a 60-year-old woman, who has since returned to China. It reported its first fatality over the weekend—the first outside virus epicenter China. — Gaea Katreena Cabico with a report from The STAR/Christina Mendez