https://www.sunstar.com.ph/ |
- 665 new Covid-19 cases logged, lowest since July 2020
- ‘Evasive’ Pharmally officials transferred to Pasay City Jail
- Palace to public: Get vaccinated amid Omicron threat
- Number coding scheme back in NCR
- Police, AFP deploy personnel amid national vax drive
- P102-M shabu seized in Caloocan drug sting
- Philippines braces for Omicron variant
- PH expands flight restrictions to 7 more countries
| 665 new Covid-19 cases logged, lowest since July 2020 Posted: 29 Nov 2021 01:22 AM PST THE Philippines' coronavirus disease (Covid-19) cases continued to dip, with the Department of Health (DOH) reporting 665 new infections on Monday, November 29, the lowest this year or since July 2020. This brought the country's total caseload to 2,832,375, of which 16,289 (0.6 percent) are active cases. The DOH reported on July 14, 2020 634 new Covid-19 cases. The positivity rate Monday was at 2.1 percent, based on the 32,639 samples tested last November 27, said the DOH. The health department also reported 993 new recoveries that brought the total number of people who have recovered from Covid-19 to 2,767,585. This accounts for 97.7 percent of all confirmed cases in the Philippines. The death toll also climbed to 48,501 with 141 new mortalities reported. The DOH said this means that only 1.71 percent of patients have succumbed to the disease. Of the active cases, 48.1 percent were considered mild cases, six percent were asymptomatic, 23.82 percent were moderate, 15.6 percent were severe 6.6 percent were critical. The DOH said two laboratories were not operational, while three were not able to submit their output to the Covid-19 Document Repository System last November 27. These laboratories contributed an average of 0.3 percent of the samples tested and 0.5 percent of all individuals who tested positive for the virus. The DOH continued to call on the public to wear face mask, observe physical distancing and avoid crowded places to prevent Covid-19 transmission. It also appealed to those who have not yet been vaccinated to join the "Bayanihan Bakunahan," or the three-day national vaccination drive, which is being held nationwide, as a preventive measure against Covid-19. The national vaccination drive will end on December 3, 2021. (LMY) This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| ‘Evasive’ Pharmally officials transferred to Pasay City Jail Posted: 28 Nov 2021 11:22 PM PST PHARMALLY Pharmaceuticals Corporation director Linconn Ong and treasurer Mohit Dargani were transferred on Monday, November 29, 2021, to the Pasay City Jail, Senator Richard Gordon said. Ong and Dargani underwent medical check-up and coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) testing before they were transferred to the said facility from the Senate office where they were initially detained for evading questions amid the investigation on alleged irregularities in the use of Covid-19 pandemic funds of the Department of Health (DOH) as flagged by the Commission on Audit (COA). Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) spokesperson Chief Inspector Xavier Solda said the two officials will undergo mandatory quarantine before they will be assigned to a cell in the general population. " Pasay City Jail is a 1,000 percent congested facility with 1,104 persons deprived of liberty (PDL). It does not have a separate facility except the isolation area intended for newly committed PDL, which is part of the health and security procedures being observed in jails," Solda said in a statement. "W alang special treatment. Walang preferential attention para sa kanila. Ang policy ng BJMP, pantay-pantay na pagtrato sa lahat ng aming mga PDL, patas na pagmamalasakit sa lahat," he added. The Senate blue ribbon committee, which leads investigation on the said irregularities, ordered Ong and Dargani's transfer to the Pasay City Jail after they failed to locate the "boxes of documents" subpoenaed by the panel, which aims to shed light on the alleged overpriced medical supplies that the firm delivered to the government. The panel was looking particularly for the company's financial statement for 2020 after a tax expert flagged the P3.4-billion unsupported purchases of the firm which it declared to the Bureau of Internal Revenue. Pharmally bagged over P8.6 billion contract from the Procurement Service of the Department of Budget Management for the delivery of medical supplies to the DOH during the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic. (SunStar Philippines) This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Palace to public: Get vaccinated amid Omicron threat Posted: 28 Nov 2021 10:18 PM PST MALACAÑANG urged the public on Monday, November 29, 2021, to get vaccinated against the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) as a preventive and safety measure against the Omicron variant (B.1.1.529). Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles said aside from observing health protocols, particularly constant hand washing, wearing of face mask and observing physical distancing, getting Covid-19 jab is also "very important." "That is how you can help the government fight the Omicron variant," he said in a press conference. "Huwag po tayo magpakampante, lalo na at meron tayong variant of concern, ang Omicron. Sabi nga ng Department of Health (DOH), hindi ito tanong kung makakapasok ba siya sa bansa. It's really a matter of time," he added. Nograles said as of November 29, 45.43 million individuals have at least received their first dose, while 35.68 million have been fully vaccinated. He appeased the public with the National Government's effort particularly in the implementation of four-door policy to prevent the Omicron variant from entering the country. The said policy includes the imposition of international travel restrictions, strengthening of quarantine and testing protocols on arriving travelers, information dissemination on preventing, detecting, isolating, treating and reintegrating on local government level and imposition of local and granular lockdowns to prevent the spread of the virus. Nograles said the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) is also studying the possibility of reimposing the mandatory wearing of face shield policy as a measure against the Omicron variant. "We're acting with a sense of urgency. Agad namang nagdedesisyon ang IATF, kinokonsulta health experts," said Nograles. Following the alert about the Omicron variant, the IATF prohibited the entry of travelers from Austria, Czech Republic, Hungary, The Netherlands, Switzerland, Belgium, Italy, South Africa, Botswana, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Lesotho, Eswatini and Mozambique where the first cases of the said strain were detected. An Omicron carrier traveler was also detected in Hong Kong but the IATF is yet to decide whether to include the territory in the red list. There is not much information about the Omicron variant, but the World Health Organization (WHO) said preliminary evidence suggests there may be a higher risk of reinfection from it. The WHO classified Omicron as a variant of concern that has a large number of mutations, which have "some more in characteristics." (SunStar Philippines) This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Number coding scheme back in NCR Posted: 28 Nov 2021 09:11 PM PST THE number coding scheme in Metro Manila will be implemented again on Thursday, December 2, 2021. Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Chairman Benhur Abalos said that as agreed by the Metro Manila Council, the reinstatement of the number coding scheme will only cover private vehicles from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., Monday to Friday. He said the actual implementation will take place two days after the resolution is published in the Official Gazette on Tuesday, November 30. The reimposition of the number coding scheme came amid heavy traffic jams in the Metro following the easing of quarantine measures brought about by the decrease in Covid-19 cases in NCR. (SunStar Philippines) This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Police, AFP deploy personnel amid national vax drive Posted: 28 Nov 2021 08:19 PM PST THE Philippine National Police (PNP) has deployed seven vaccination teams to assist in the ongoing three-day national vaccination drive, police Chief Dionardo Carlos said on Monday, November 29, 2021. Carlos said the teams are composed of 70 medical reserve forces personnel from the PNP Health Service who were pulled out from their duty station at the reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) swabbing facility in the Mall of Asia complex in Pasay City. He said these teams were deployed to the Regional Medical and Dental Unit of Police Regional Offices in Pampanga, Laguna and National Capital Region. "Nationwide, there are 5,530 PNP Medical Reserve Force personnel, 347 of whom are trained vaccinators. They are now on standby in their duty stations in PNP Regional Health Units awaiting on-call deployment in case DOH-NVOC (Department of Health- National Vaccination Operations Center) will need more vaccination team personnel," said Carlos. Carlos said 10 Medical Reserve Force personnel in Camp Crame and 18 trained vaccinators at the Regional Medical-Dental Unit of National Capital Region Police Office were also on stand-by for rapid deployment. Meanwhile, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) deployed medical teams tasked to provide coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) vaccine shots to people living in "geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas" (Gidas) amid the ongoing national vaccination drive from November 29, 30 and December 1. "Naitalaga sa amin na maipaabot ang bakuna sa ating mga kababayan na nasa lugar na tinatawag nating 'Gidas' or geograpically isolated and disadvantaged areas yan nga po 'yung mga isla, kabundukan, yun pong kumunidad ng ating mga IPs (Indigenous Peoples)," AFP Surgeon General, Colonel Fatima Claire Navarro, said in an radio interview on Sunday, November 28. Navarro said 25 medical teams in the various unified commands all over the country will be deployed to vaccinate people residing in these Gidas aside from the 37 medical teams tasked to provide manpower support to civilian medical units. She said they were also in charge of the hauling of medical supplies and materials that will be used for the vaccination campaigns. (SunStar Philippines) This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| P102-M shabu seized in Caloocan drug sting Posted: 28 Nov 2021 07:50 PM PST AUTHORITIES arrested on Monday morning, November 29, 2021, a drug suspect who yielded P102 million worth of methamphetamine hydrochloride (shabu) during a buy-bust operation in Caloocan City. Philippine National Police Drug Enforcement Group (PNP-DEG) Chief Brigadier General Remus Medina said Randy Rafael, 42, a resident of Pasay City, was arrested in Barangay 161, Zone 14, District 1, Caloocan City around 12:30 a.m. Seized from the suspect were 14 pieces of Chinese tea bag containing more or less one kilogram each of shabu with a total estimated value of P102 million. Medina said Rafael reportedly works for a Chinese personality only identified as "Lim," who is openly distributing illegal drugs in the National Capital Region and nearby areas. The suspect will be charged with violation of the Republic Act 9165, also known as Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002. (SunStar Philippines) This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Philippines braces for Omicron variant Posted: 28 Nov 2021 07:41 PM PST NATIONAL Task Force (NTF) Against Covid-19 chief and vaccine czar Carlito Galves Jr. assured the public on Sunday, November 28, 2021, that the government, through the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF), is closely monitoring all the developments regarding the new and potentially more infectious strain of Sars-CoV-2, the Omicron variant (B.1.1.529). Galvez said the public has nothing to worry about, as the government is already gearing up against the Omicron variant. "Nag-usap-usap na kami sa IATF, para 'yung preparation natin sa mga treatment therapies, ICUs, sa ating mga hospitals, personnel, hinahanda na po natin 'yan," he said in a statement. "Huwag po kayong mag-alala, huwag po kayong mag-panic. Sundin lang po natin ang minimum health standards at protocols, magsuot po ng face mask, at hopefully, magawa natin 'yung ating ginawa sa Delta variant where we were able to completely manage 'yung [virus and prevent] possible unnecessary loss of lives at economy," he added. Vaccination effort Galvez said the country's vaccination strategies will continue and will be recalibrated, improved and strengthened amid the threat of Omicron. He said the focused targets, which include the health workers, elderlies and persons who are immunocompromised, will remain at the top priority of vaccination to control critical disease, hospitalization and excessive deaths due to Covid-19. "Ang aming panagawan din sa lahat ng ating kababayan, 'yung mga wala pang bakuna, magpabakuna na. During the onslaught of the Delta [variant], nakita natin na karamihan ng casualties at severe cases ay 75-85 percent unvaccinated," he said. As of November 27, at least 35,557,409 individuals have been fully vaccinated, while 45,286,049 people have received the first dose. The Philippines launched the three-day National Vaccination Drive on Monday, November 29, to inoculate nine million individuals. This covers primary, booster and pediatric vaccination. A total of 11,000 vaccination sites and 160,000 volunteers have been activated and mobilized for the nationwide implementation of the program, which will run until December 1. The second leg of the vaccination event will be held from December 15 to 17. Amid the threat of the Omicron variant, Galvez said the National Government remains committed to its goal of fully vaccinating at least 77 million individuals in the country by the first quarter of 2022, as well as to start the inoculation of children 11 years old and below. "By the second quarter of 2022, the government shall have fully vaccinated 90 million individuals, in time for the national elections," Galvez said. "The rest of the Filipino population is expected to be fully vaccinated by the third quarter of next year based on the national government's vaccination synchronization matrix," he added. Travel restrictions On Sunday, November 28, the IATF issued Resolution 151-A, which includes modifications in the Philippines' border restrictions and control. The modifications include the inclusion of Austria, Czech Republic, Hungary, The Netherlands, Switzerland, Belgium and Italy in the Red list, which initially covered South Africa, Botswana, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Lesotho, Eswatini and Mozambique. Flights coming from the said areas will be prohibited from entering the country until December 15. Only Filipinos returning to the country via government-initiated or non-government-initiated repatriation and Bayanihan flights may be allowed entry subject to the prevailing entry, testing, and quarantine protocols for Red List countries/jurisdictions/territories. The IATF also approved the temporary suspension of testing and quarantine protocols for countries/jurisdictions/territories under green list until December 15. In the resolution issued by the IATF on November 11, fully vaccinated travelers entering the Philippines from areas under the green list no longer need to undergo a facility-based quarantine upon their arrival provided that they yield negative RT-PCR test results taken within 72 hours prior to departure from the country of origin. They also have the option to undergo a facility-based quarantine until the release of their negative RT-PCR test result taken in the quarantine facility upon arrival in the country or not to undergo quarantine, so long as they get a negative RT-PCR test result within 72 hours prior to departure from the country of origin. Unvaccinated or partially vaccinated individuals, as well as those with unverified vaccination status and those who failed to comply with the "test-before-travel requirements" need to undergo a facility-based quarantine until the release of their negative RT-PCR test taken on their fifth day in the country. "Except for countries classified as 'Red,' the testing and quarantine protocols for all inbound international travelers in all ports of entry shall comply with the testing and quarantine protocols for 'Yellow' list countries," Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles said. "The Bureau of Quarantine and the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) with the local government units (LGUs) have been directed to identify and locate passengers who arrived within 14 days prior to November 29, 2021, from countries classified as Red, and require them to complete quarantine under a home quarantine set-up for 14 days from date of arrival and undergo RT-PCR if symptoms develop," he added. For fully vaccinated passengers departing from countries under yellow list, they need to undergo facility-based quarantine until the release of their negative RT-PCR test result taken on their fifth day in the Philippines. Unvaccinated or partially vaccinated will have to undergo RT-PCR testing on the seventh day of a facility-based quarantine. The IATF also temporarily suspended IATF Resolution 150-A (series of 2021), which allows the entry of fully vaccinated nationals of non-visa required countries. Nograles said LGUs were also enjoined to heighten their alert for detecting, tracking, and isolating Covid-19 cases in their areas, including domestic and foreign travelers. The Regional Epidemiology and Surveillance Units were also directed to ensure targeted selection of samples for sequencing and address declining submissions of laboratories and regions from domestic and international travelers. "In addition, the Department of Health is directed to ensure health system capacity is prepared to address increase of Covid-19 cases, if any, while the Sub-Technical Working Group on Data Analytics is directed to begin preparing models to show potential impact of the Omicron variant to prevailing protocols and approvals of the IATF," said Nograles. The Omicron variant was first detected in Botswana, and then in South Africa. In a statement on Sunday, November 28, the World Health Organization (WHO) said it is not clear yet if Omicron is more transmissible as compared to the Delta variant, although preliminary evidence suggests there may be a higher risk of reinfection from the strain. (SunStar Philippines) This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| PH expands flight restrictions to 7 more countries Posted: 28 Nov 2021 07:27 PM PST THE Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) approved on Sunday, November 28, the expansion of flight ban to seven more countries amid the threat of Omicron variant of Sars-CoV-2, which causes the coronavirus disease (Covid-19). Austria, Czech Republic, Hungary, The Netherlands, Switzerland, Belgium and Italy were added to the countries under Red list (high-risk for Covid-19), which initially includes South Africa, Botswana, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Lesotho, Eswatini and Mozambique. The flight restriction from the said countries is effective until December 15, 2021. READ: PH bans flights from Hong Kong due to Omicron variant "Inbound international travel of all persons, regardless of vaccination status, coming from or who have been to Red List countries/jurisdictions/territories within the last 14 days prior to arrival to any port of the Philippines shall not be allowed," Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles said. "Only Filipinos returning to the country via government-initiated or non-government-initiated repatriation and Bayanihan flights may be allowed entry subject to the prevailing entry, testing, and quarantine protocols for Red List countries/jurisdictions/territories," he added. Travelers who were already in transit from the said countries within 14 days prior to their arrival in the Philippines are not covered by the restrictions, but they will have to undergo mandatory facility-based quarantine for 14 days with testing on the seventh day, with their date of their arrival being their first day. Passengers who have already arrived prior to November 28, 2021 and are currently undergoing quarantine pursuant to the classifications of their country of origin shall complete their respective testing and quarantine protocols. Travelers, whether Filipinos or foreigners, merely transiting through the countries under Red list, shall not be deemed as having come from or having been to said country if they stayed in the airport the whole time and were not cleared for entry into such country by its immigration authorities. The IATF also approved the temporary suspension of its Resolution 150-A (series of 2021), which allows the entry of fully vaccinated nationals of non-visa required countries. (SunStar Philippines) This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
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