Nine doctors die from coronavirus in Philippines

Philippines’ top medical association has announced today (Thursday) that nine doctors have died in the country from the novel coronavirus.

According to international news agency, the announcement of the doctors’ deaths heightened fears that the scale of the health crisis in the Philippines is much worse than is being officially reported.

The Medical Association has claimed that health workers were not getting enough protection as hospitals in Manila were no longer accepting patients because they were undergoing 14-day self-quarantines after suspected exposure.

Vice-president of the Philippine Medical Association, Dr Benito Atienza said, “If it were up to me, test the front liners first and test them again after seven days. Doctors could be carriers themselves.”

Earlier on Wednesday, three Manila hospitals announced that they had reached full capacity and would no longer accept new coronavirus cases.

Meanwhile, Philippine health ministry recorded seven new coronavirus deaths and 71 new confirmed infections.

Health Secretary Francisco Duque while addressing a news conference said that after these new cases the country’s confirmed cases rises to 707 and deaths to 45 so far.

The main island of Luzon, is in second week of a lockdown to contain the outbreak of the novel coronavirus.