Philippines on Covid-19

The president of the Philippines, Rodrigo Duterte, has warned anyone who violates the country’s coronavirus lockdown measures could be shot.

In a televised address, Mr Duterte said it was vital everyone cooperates and follows home quarantine measures.

He also said the abuse of medical workers was a serious crime that would not be tolerated.

Authorities are fighting to slow the spread of Covid-19 and spare the country’s fragile health system from being overwhelmed.

The Philippines has recorded 96 coronavirus deaths and 2,311 confirmed cases, with infections now being reported in the hundreds each day.

“It is getting worse. So once again I’m telling you the seriousness of the problem and that you must listen,” Mr Duterte said on Wednesday.

“My orders to the police and military ... if there is trouble and there’s an occasion that they fight back and your lives are in danger, shoot them dead.”

“Is that understood? Dead. Instead of causing trouble, I will bury you.”

His comments came after media reports of a disturbance and several arrests on Wednesday of residents in a poor area of Manila who were protesting about insufficient government food aid.

They also follow outrage among the medical community about social stigma and instances of hospital workers suffering physical abuse and discrimination, which Mr Duterte said must be stopped.

Butch Olano, Amnesty International’s Philippines director, said: “It is deeply alarming that President Duterte has extended a policy of shoot to kill, a devastating hallmark of his presidency, to law enforcement agencies in the community quarantine.

“Deadly, unchecked force should never be referr