Police in the Philippines have raided a small illegal hospital and a pharmacy that were secretly treating Chinese nationals suspected of having the coronavirus, the Associated Press reports, quoting police officials.

Two people were arrested during the raid at a residential villa that had been converted into a seven-bed hospital, police said. One patient was found in the building.

More than 200 suspected coronavirus rapid test kits and syringes were also recovered from rubbish bins at the villa.

Those arrested were a Chinese hospital administrator and a person who manned the pharmacy, police said. The male Chinese patient has been moved to a local hospital.

The illegal facility, north-west of the capital Manila, is believed to have been in operation for about three months, officials said.

ReutersCopyright: Reuters