Chinese nationals distribute free face masks in Manila

A group of Chinese nationals were spotted giving away free face masks at Fugoso St., Sta. Cruz, Manila on Saturday morning amid the public's alarm over the first confirmed case of novel coronavirus in the Philippines.

YouScooper Mingo Royo Lee said she came upon the group and thanked them, as stores in the city are running out of face masks.

Earlier, two other Chinese nationals were seen distributing face masks in Makati.

Some Chinese tourists have reported experiencing prejudice in different countries amid the outbreak, which originated in Wuhan, China.

Precious Ann Patiño, the Makati resident who shared the photos of the two Chinese nationals, said, "Tanggapin n'yo na lang po 'yung offer nila na mask sa ganyang paraan na lang sila makakabawi sa mga sama ng loob sa kanila at para makatulong na din sila."

Currently, over 258 deaths from the novel coronavirus outbreak have been reported. On Thursday, the Philippines confirmed its first confirmed case of nCoV.

The World Health Organization has already declared the virus outbreak as a global emergency.

—Kaela Malig/JCB, GMA News