MANILA (UPDATED) – The Department of Health (DOH) on Friday confirmed that the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in the Philippines has reached 64.

This, after 12 new cases were added to the DOH’s cumulative list of COVID-19 patients.

Of the new cases, 8 are male and 4 are female. The youngest is 27 years old and the oldest is 70 years old.

They are confined in the following hospitals: The Medical City, Ortigas Hospital and Health Care Center, Cardinal Santos Medical Center, St. Luke’s medical Center – Global City, University of the East Ramon Magsaysay Memorial Medical Center, Ortigas Hospital and health Care Center, Marikina Valley Medical Center, Bataan St. Joseph Hospital and Medical Center.

One patient is from Mandaluyong, another from Pasig, two from Makati, one from Manila and one from Rizal. The rest are still for validation.

So far there are no new fatalities, keeping the number of deceased at five. There are also no new recoveries, except the two Chinese women in February.

DOH assured the public that it is conducting contact tracing to check on those who interacted with the new patients.

“We continually ask the public to cooperate and help us int he investigation and contact tracing activities,” Health Secretary Francisco Duque said. Anyone with information may call the DOH hotline at (02) 8-651-7800 loc. 1149 to 1150.

“For those who are confirmed cases, please let our hospitals take care of you,” Duque added. “Let us take it upon ourselves to protect our family and our community’s health and well-being.”

The DOH said those most at risk are those with underlying medical conditions such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, cancer, chronic lung disease and immunosuppression, as well as the elderly. It noted that the average age of confirmed cases is at 66 years old.

Duque also urged Filipinos not to hoard basic commodities, especially hygiene and sanitation products.

“It does not help us fight COVID-19,” he said. “Realize that when you hoard you are being part of the problem by denying the rest of your fellowmen the means to protect themselves.”

Worldwide, there are more than 130,000 cases of COVID-19, with almost 5,000 fatalities. The disease has now spread to 123 countries.

Johns Hopkins University reports that more than 69,000 people of the 130,000 cases have already recovered.

COVID-19 may be fatal for the elderly, the immunocompromised, and those with underlying medical condition but 80 percent of cases globally showed a high chance of recovery "without needing special treatment," according to the World Health Organization.

WHO said COVID-19 symptoms include fever, tiredness, and dry cough. Some patients may have aches and pains, nasal congestion, runny nose, sore throat or diarrhea.

LOOK: Updated list of COVID-19 patients from DOH @ABSCBNNews pic.twitter.com/MzQJXtAQUJ

— Kristine Sabillo (@kristinesabillo) March 13, 2020