IATF okays shorter isolation for aviation workers
The government’s pandemic task force has authorized the aviation sector to implement shorter isolation and quarantine for its workers who test positive for the new coronavirus or got exposed to a patient. The latest resolution from the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious (IATF) will cover airline personnel, ground handlers, maintenance providers, airport security, air traffic controllers, airport workers and other aviation-related personnel. ADVERTISEMENTThe IATF said the isolation of mild and asymptomatic confirmed COVID-19 cases who were fully vaccinated and boosted would be up to five days. Those who are asymptomatic close contacts of confirmed COVID-19 cases and who have been fully vaccinated and received the booster shot, as well as asymptomatic close contacts who recovered from COVID-19 within the last 90 days, can skip quarantine. —Leila B. SalaverriaRead Next
Source:Philippine Daily Inquirer
January 15, 2022 09:04 UTC
Government simplifies processes to ramp up vaccination
Government simplifies processes to ramp up vaccinationMotorists queue for booster shot for COVID-19 during a drive-thru vaccination at Quirino Grandstand in Manila on Jan. 15, 2022. MANILA, Philippines — The government has simplified the COVID-19 vaccination process as it seeks to ramp up its inoculation efforts amid a sharp rise in pandemic infections. "The vaccination process has been simplified. "Get vaccinated and avail of booster shots. It also seeks to provide 72.16 million boosters for the adult population and to administer booster shots to 12.74 million minors aged 12 to 17 this year.
Source:Philippine Star
January 15, 2022 08:40 UTC
Philippines to acquire US$375m missile system from India
Philippine Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana. (Reuters)The Philippines has finalized a deal to acquire a shore-based anti-ship missile system from India for nearly US$375 million to beef up its navy, the Southeast Asian nation's defense minister said. Under the deal negotiated with the government of India, Brahmos Aerospace Private Ltd will deliver three batteries, train operators and maintainers, and provide logistics support, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said in a Facebook post late on Friday. The new anti-ship system aims to deter foreign vessels from encroaching on the country's 200 nautical mile exclusive economic zone. In 2018, the Philippines bought Israeli-made Spike ER missiles, its first-ever ship-borne missile systems for maritime deterrence.
Source:The Standard
January 15, 2022 04:11 UTC
Manila tags 14 more 'high risk' states
THE government's pandemic task force has included 14 states and territories in the red list or areas that are deemed of high risk for Covid-19, Malacañang announced Friday. According to acting Palace spokesman Karlo Alexei Nograles, Filipino travelers coming from red list countries shall be allowed to enter the country. "Napagdesisyunan na (It's been decided that) we'll allow them to come in as long as they comply with the red list protocols. 'Di na nila kailangan maghintay ng Bayanihan flights (They no longer need to wait for Bayanihan flights)," he added. HK banMeanwhile, passengers from more than 150 nations will be banned from transiting through Hong Kong International Airport.
Source:Manila Times
January 15, 2022 04:03 UTC
IATF: Foreigners entering PH need proof of full vaccination
Beginning Feb. 16, foreign nationals entering the country must show proof of full vaccination against COVID-19, according to the government’s pandemic task force. ADVERTISEMENTOnly a limited number of foreigners have been allowed here so far and foreign tourists are still barred from entering the country. Those who are fully vaccinated will be placed on facility quarantine upon arrival and administered an RT-PCR test on the seventh day of quarantine. Those who are unvaccinated, partially vaccinated, or whose vaccination status cannot be validated will be tested on the seventh day while under facility quarantine. Fully vaccinated travelers from green-list, or low-risk countries will be spared facility quarantine, but should monitor themselves for symptoms for seven days.
Source:Philippine Daily Inquirer
January 15, 2022 01:00 UTC
Philippines allows entry of Filipino travelers from 'red list' countries
Philippines allows entry of Filipino travelers from 'red list' countriesArriving passengers wearing protective masks wait for their luggage at the international airport in Manila on February 3, 2020. Those coming from or who have been to red list territories within the last 14 days will now be allowed entry into the Philippines, Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles said Friday. The government previously prohibited travelers from red list areas from entering the Philippines, except for Filipinos returning to the country via government-initiated repatriation and Bayanihan flights. “We have decided that Filipinos from red list countries will be allowed to come in as long as they comply with red list protocols. Filipinos from red list countries don't need to wait for bayanihan flights anymore,” Nograles said.
Source:Philippine Star
January 14, 2022 21:45 UTC
Comelec targets January 17 start of printing ballots
Comelec targets January 17 start of printing ballotsIn filing House Resolution No. MANILA, Philippines —The Commission on Elections (Comelec) is targeting to start the printing of ballots for the May 9 national and local elections on Monday. Today, the poll body intends to complete the final ballot faces for printing, which bear the final list of candidates for national positions. The final ballot face means that is the final list of candidates,” Comelec spokesman James Jimenez said. In a statement, the Comelec said that national candidates can use the Campaign SAFE.COMELEC e-Rally Channel on Facebook.
Source:Philippine Star
January 14, 2022 19:47 UTC
Robredo prefers face-off with Bongbong in 2022 polls
Robredo prefers face-off with Bongbong in 2022 pollsVice President Leni Robredo speaks to the crowd in this picture uploaded on her official Facebook page on Nov. 20, 2021. MANILA, Philippines — Vice President Leni Robredo prefers to have another face-off with former senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. instead of him getting disqualified to run in the upcoming presidential race. Asked what she wanted to put an end on, the Vice President cited the false narrative that she cheated in the 2016 vice presidential race. During the interview, the Vice President described online disinformation as one of the more difficult challenges that her campaign is facing. Asked about the failed unification talks with other candidates, Robredo said she was initially frustrated at the outcome, although she has no regrets as she exerted all effort.
Source:Philippine Star
January 14, 2022 19:36 UTC
Sotto: Government must find ways to persuade unvaxxed to get jab
Sotto: Government must find ways to persuade unvaxxed to get jabVendors and shoppers at Ilaya Divisoria show their vaccination card in a surprise random inspection of Task Force Malasakit of Manila on Tuesday, Jan. 12, 2022. Gloriani said the massive spread of the highly transmissible Omicron variant is a result of a deficiency in protection. That is what we call hybrid immunity,” Gloriani said. “What we have learned so far, hybrid immunity is higher than either natural immunity, or vaccine (induced) immunity,” Gloriani said. However, Gloriani said that a vaccinated person should not intentionally expose himself to the highly transmissible Omicron coronavirus.
Source:Philippine Star
January 14, 2022 17:15 UTC
WHO approves two new Covid treatments
AFP PhotoTHE World Health Organization (WHO) approved two new Covid-19 treatments on Friday, growing the arsenal of tools along with vaccines to stave off severe illness and death from the virus. Experts also recommended synthetic antibody treatment sotrovimab for people with non-serious Covid at highest risk of hospitalization, such as the elderly, people with immunodeficiencies or chronic diseases such as diabetes. Only three other treatments for Covid-19 have received WHO approval, starting with corticosteroids for severely ill patients in September 2020. Synthetic antibody treatment Regeneron was approved by the WHO in September and the guidelines say sotrovimab can be used for the same type of patients. The WHO's Covid treatment recommendations are updated regularly based on new data from clinical trials.
Source:Manila Times
January 14, 2022 16:53 UTC
Hong Kong bans transit passengers from 153 countries
Passengers from more than 150 nations will be banned from transiting through Hong Kong, the Airport Authority said Friday, in the latest tightening of the city's strict anti-virus travel measures. Hong Kong ranks territories into categories based on how widespread their Covid-19 infections are, with 153 countries currently classified as Group A -- from which arrivals must spend 21 days in quarantine. Eight Group A countries -- Australia, Canada, France, India, the Philippines, Pakistan, the UK and the US -- are already banned entirely from arriving in Hong Kong. The transit suspension was first reported by Bloomberg News this week citing sources who said it would not apply to diplomats, officials and athletes heading to next month's Winter Olympics in Beijing. The Hong Kong airport statement on Friday listed no exemptions for Olympic delegates.
Source:The Standard
January 14, 2022 13:57 UTC
(Video) Secondary school girl knocked unconscious and trapped under taxi in Sham Shui Po
A secondary school girl was knocked unconscious and trapped under a taxi after getting hit by the vehicle in Sham Shui Po on Friday. The accident happened at around 8am this morning at a zebra crossing near Berwick Street when the cab was traveling along Tai Po Road. The 14-year-old girl was trapped and later freed by passengers on board the taxi and passersby, said a police spokesman. It was understood that the girl was a student of a nearby secondary school. According to video footage circulating online, the girl was suspected to have ignored the crossing lights before the accident happened.
Source:The Standard
January 14, 2022 13:44 UTC
'Spider-Man: No Way Home' closes a trilogy, starts a multiverse of possibilities
‘Spider-Man: No Way Home’ is about Peter Parker growing up, stepping up to the plate, and making his own decisions as a full-blown Avenger. "This film is about him becoming the Spider-Man," said Tom Holland, who reprises his role as Peter Parker. "No Way Home" is indeed the culmination of the Homecoming trilogy and the start of a multiverse of possibilities. Strange's spell opens the multiverse so that anyone in any universe who knew Peter Parker was Spider-Man could come into his world. When Strange's spell collapses the boundaries between these universes, all of them are brought together to face this Peter Parker.
Source:Manila Times
January 14, 2022 12:54 UTC
Flight cancellations 2022: Keeping travel safe as airline personnel struggle with COVID
This, she said, was prompted by employees—both ground and flight workers—who remained in isolation either because of COVID sickness or exposure to COVID. From Nov. 1, 2021 to Jan. 11, 2022, the limit was fixed at 4,000 daily. Flight and ground workers reporting sick or isolating after contact with COVID-positive individuals was the main reason for the disruptions. Villanuna said PAL also informed passengers about the cancellations, saying that last Jan. 9, over 100 flights scheduled until Jan. 15 had been canceled. “Our PAL medical team is actively monitoring the health and wellness of all employees, including our cabin crew and flight teams.
Source:Philippine Daily Inquirer
January 14, 2022 10:15 UTC