President Rodrigo Duterte placed Metro Manila on community quarantine, on March 14, 2020. Two days after, the entire Luzon was under an "enhanced community quarantine."

Other countries such as Italy, which has the highest death toll so far, imposed a lockdown back on March 10.

FROM OUR ARCHIVES: In January 2020, the country announced its first case of #COVID19PH. This led a few senators to urge for a ban on all travelers coming from China.

But despite strong calls, the DOH and the Palace said there is no urgent need for it. https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2020/01/30/1989051/senators-want-great-wall-vs-chinese-visitors-amid-first-philippine-novel-coronavirus-case

In January 2020, the Palace also asked people to remain calm despite the entry of #COVID19PH in the country. https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2020/01/30/1989148/palace-calls-calm-amid-philippines-first-confirmed-novel-coronavirus-case

FROM OUR ARCHIVES: In February 2020 the first #COVID19 death outside of China was recorded in the country.

President Rodrigo Duterte said that Filipinos did not need to be scared of the virus, saying it will eventually die "of natural death"

Read here: https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2020/02/04/1990292/duterte-ncov-die-natural-death

CORRECTION: The community quarantine in Metro Manila was announced on March 12, 2020 and took effect on March 15, 2020.

The enhanced community quarantine in Luzon was announced on March 16, 2020 and took effect on March 17, 2020.