Museums closed indefinitely amid COVID-19 threat

The National Museum of the Philippines has announced that museums will be closed starting on Friday, the 13th of March 2020, until further notice amid the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

The announcement was issued later Thursday evening, a few hours after President Rodrigo Duterte announced that the National Capital Region will be under community quarantine starting March 15 until April 14, 2020.

The directive includes "all museums within the National Museum network, in Manila and nation-wide."

"All previously-advertised or programmed public events and activities are likewise postponed until further notice. We are sorry for this inconvenience. Thank you for understanding."

The Department of Health has announced that there are 52 confirmed COVID-19 cases and five deaths.

President Duterte has announced that the Philippines is under Code Red Sub-Level 2 over the COVID-19 threat.

He added that government work would be suspended and a skeletal workforce will be implemented.

Land, domestic air and domestic sea travel to and from Metro Manila will be suspended from March 15, 2020 until April 14, 2020, subject to daily review of the government.

The Philippines will also ban foreign nationals from countries with localized COVID-19 transmissions, except diplomats and permanent residents. — BAP, GMA News