Table 1.

Summary of events in the Philippine COVID-19 outbreak.

Date	Relevant events	Reference
30 January	•A 38-year-old female Chinese national becomes the first COVID-19 case. •RITM has begun conducting COVID-19 confirmatory tests. Before that, RITM only conducts preliminary tests, and the confirmation is done abroad. •WHO declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern	[41]) [42]
1 February	•A Chinese man was the first confirmed COVID-19 death in the Philippines, and consequently, the first death outside China.	[43]
2 February	•The Philippine government declared a temporary ban on all people originating from China, Macau, and Hongkong.	[44])
4 February	•The National Institute of Health at the University of the Philippines in Manila developed testing kits for COVID-19.	[45])
7 March	•The first positive COVID-19 case with no travel history abroad, and accordingly, the first local transmission was confirmed. •DOH declared Code Red Sub-Level 1 and imposed a public health emergency that mobilizes the necessary resources for procuring safety gear and preventive quarantine measures.	[46])
9 March	•The government has put the country under a State of Public Health Emergency.	[47]
11 March	•WHO declared COVID-19 as a pandemic.	[48]
12 March	•A Code Red Sub-Level 2 or partial lockdown was declared in Metro Manila (i.e., composed of 16 cities), and classes were suspended.	[49]
16 March	•The entire Luzon island, the Philippines' largest island, was placed under ECQ, and social distancing was strictly imposed.	[50])
17 March	•The entire country was placed under the State of Calamity for a tentative period of 6 months.	[51]
19 March	•The government declared a temporary suspension of visas and issuance to foreign nationals.	[52])
25 March	•The Philippine government has enacted Republic Act (R.A.) 11469 or The Bayanihan to Heal as One Act.	[53]
12 April	•The government required public disclosure of personal information of COVID-19 patients.	[54]
24 April	•The Philippine government announced that lower risk community areas would be placed under GCQ, while the rest must maintain the ECQ status.	[55]
30 April	•Executive Order No. 112 was signed to identify specific areas under an ECQ or GCQ status.	[31]
May 7, 2020	•The IATF, the Department of Trade and Industry, and the Department of Labor and Employment have proposed a new set of guidelines to be imposed in areas under the ECQ and GCQ.	[56]