By Argyll Geducos President Duterte is not keen on limiting his public engagements despite the threat of the 2019-novel coronavirus acute respiratory disease (2019-nCoV ARD) in the Philippines. President Rodrigo Roa Duterte (TOTO LOZANO/PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO) In a press briefing on Monday evening after an emergency meeting to discuss recent developments regarding the virus, President Duterte left his mortality to fate. "When my time comes, it will come. When the time comes you will know because I will go out of Malacañang in a funeral car," he said, jesting with reporters. Duterte's press briefing in Malacañang was his first since the first case of the virus in the country was reported last week. Before his emergency meeting, the President led a change-of-command ceremony at the Philippine Navy Headquarters in Manila. At the briefing, the President said he cannot avoid going out in public and shaking hands with the people he meets because he is the president of the country. "'Di naman ako kung sino babay (I'm not one to just say goodbye), 'How are you?' 'Good.' And if somebody would extend his hand to a gesture ," he said. The Department of Health (DOH) earlier urged the public to avoid contact with those showing symptoms of the virus, farm animals, shaking hands, brushing cheeks or "beso-beso," and even fist bumps.