Philippine President, RODRIGO DUTERTE has extended until April 30 a partial lock-down of the country, affecting an estimated 57 million people in the northern island of Luzon.

Cabinet Secretary, CARLO NOGRALES said the decision to extend the lock-down had been made on the recommendation of an inter-agency committee formed to address the health emergency.

The lock-down of Luzon, the country's largest island, has been in place since March 17.

 It was seen as an expansion of an earlier order covering only Metro Manila, the sprawling capital with a population of more than 12 million people.