MANILA - The Las Piñas City government on Thursday said it had recorded its first case of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

The 53-year-old man, who did not have a history of traveling abroad, is confined at the Las Piñas General Hospital and Trauma Center.

The patient is the country's 36th case of COVID-19, which was announced by health authorities on Wednesday, the city government said in an advisory.

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A surveillance team from the Las Piñas City Health Office is conducting contact tracing or locating people who may have come in contact with the infected patient.

Those who may have been exposed to the patient and have exhibited flu-like symptoms are urged to call the city's hotlines: 02-8994-5782, 09156481735 and 09284627034.

As authorities scrambled to arrest the spread of the disease, the city government urged the public to remain calm and exercise hygienic measures, such as frequent handwashing and social distancing.

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The World Health Organization (WHO) has characterized the outbreak as a pandemic as the disease has infected more than 118,000 and killed nearly 4,300 in 114 countries and territories.