US vows to donate $2.7M to PH to aid fight vs COVID-19

US Embassy in Manila, Philippines. AP FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — The United States government has pledged more than $2.7 million (around P139 million) in donation to help the Philippine government in responding against the 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak.

In a statement, the US Embassy in Manila said the US government, through the US Agency for International Development (USAid), will collaborate with concerned Philippine government agencies “to establish and implement internationally-recognized infectious disease threat prevention and response strategies, and enhance infection control.”

The embassy said the donation from the US would be used to “strengthen specimen transport systems and laboratory capacity to accurately and rapidly detect cases.”

The US assistance would also be used for the protection of health workers and patients as it would ensure the availability, delivery and proper management of hygiene products, masks, waste management supplies, and other necessary commodities.

“More broadly, the US-government supported programs will expand communities’ disease preparedness and access to water, sanitation, and hygiene services and commodities,” the embassy further said.

On Monday night, President Rodrigo Duterte placed the entire island of Luzon under “enhanced community quarantine” as the number of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases continue to rise in the country.

The Department of Health (DOH) has so far recorded 142 COVID-19 cases in the country.

Of the number, 12 have died while three patients have recovered from the disease.

COVID-19, now considered by the World Health Organization as a pandemic, has infected more than 160,000 people – killed 6,000 – in over 140 different countries and territories, including China where the virus originated.

Edited by JPV