All court hearings suspended from March 13 to 18 —SC

Chief Justice Diosdado Peralta has suspended all court hearings from March 13 to 18 as an additional measure to contain the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-2019).

The suspension covers court hearings in the first- and second-level, and collegiate courts, Peralta said hours after issuing an administrative circular setting guidelines for the conduct of business in halls of justices amid the outbreak.

The chief justice ordered justices and judges to reset hearings and inform the parties of new schedules, disinfect court premises, write orders and decisions, and act on other pending matters between March 13 and 18, according to an announcement sent to media by Supreme Court spokesman Brian Keith Hosaka.

Hosaka said parties can still file pleadings during and court personnel will still be reporting for work during this period.

“Justices and judges are likewise expected to continue to report to the Office of the Court Administrator any development or circumstance regarding the spread of Covid-19,” the chief justice said.

The Philippines has reported 52 confirmed COVID-19 infections as of Thursday afternoon. Two patients have died.

COVID-19 is the infectious disease caused by the most recently discovered coronavirus, which belongs to a family of viruses that cause illnesses ranging from the common cold to the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) and the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

The disease can spread through small droplets from the nose or mouth when an infected person coughs or exhales, or when people touch objects or surfaces where the droplets landed then touch their eyes, nose or mouth, according to WHO. — MDM, GMA News