Robredo’s office rolls out free antigen tests anew amid COVID-19 spike
Robredo’s office rolls out free antigen tests anew amid COVID-19 spikePeople line up to get tested at the Swab Cab of the Office of the Vice President relaunched on Wednesday, January 5, in partnership with the local government of Quezon City and UBE Express. MANILA, Philippines — The office of Vice President Leni Robredo is offering free antigen tests again in response to the spike in new COVID-19 cases in the country presumed to be driven by the more infectious Omicron variant. Robredo’s office first rolled out Swab Cabs during a coronavirus surge in March 2021. Robredo’s free testing initiative comes as there are renewed calls for free mass testing — appeals which the government still does not want to heed. Doctors may sign up here, while mental health professionals may sign up here, and non-medical volunteers may sign up here.
Source:Philippine Star
January 06, 2022 05:55 UTC
Blow for cruise companies as trips-to-nowhere grounded
Another company, Dream Cruises, said at least seven of its trips will be canceled during the two weeks from yesterday, including a Genting Dream cruise that was supposed to depart yesterday afternoon. Passenger Tang complained that Dream Cruises received the government's notice at 2.40pm yesterday but it should have been informed earlier. Tang's sister said her family of four spent almost HK$1,000 for Covid testing before boarding and are not sure whether they will be compensated by Dream Cruises. Dream Cruises said affected guests can go on a future Genting Dream cruise until April 27. The nine, who tested negative for Covid on the ship yesterday, were isolated from the rest of the people on board before they were sent to Penny's Bay quarantine center.
Source:The Standard
January 06, 2022 05:54 UTC
Vaccine rollout still ‘relatively slow’ despite 101 million doses ready
However, there were only 5,669,493 fully vaccinated seniors as of Jan. 4 this year. Galvez said the booster shot rollout has been “relatively slow” and mentioned around 60 cities and adjacent towns where the booster vaccination drives should be ramped up. For Metro Manila, Galvez presented statistics showing that as of Dec. 28, 2021, there were 10.4 million fully vaccinated residents comprising 82 percent of the 12.6 million eligible recipients. The 12.6 million eligibles are those age 5 and above and make up 90 percent of Metro Manila’s total population of 14 million. Based on the national vaccination dashboard, a total of 50,627,196 Filipinos around the country were already fully vaccinated.
Source:Philippine Daily Inquirer
January 06, 2022 03:52 UTC
Macau bans international passenger flights for two weeks
Macau has announced a two-week ban on any inbound passenger flights from outside of China after three coronavirus cases were found in passengers arriving from overseas. Like mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau have maintained some of the world's harshest measures throughout the pandemic -- including virtually closed borders, weeks-long quarantines, targeted lockdowns and mass testing. Macau's Health Bureau announced Wednesday it will prohibit "civil aircraft from carrying passengers from places outside China to Macau" for two weeks starting midnight on Sunday. Health officials on Wednesday identified three imported asymptomatic cases in Macau, related to travelers from the United Kingdom and the Philippines. The former Portuguese colony turned Chinese gambling hub has only recorded 79 confirmed coronavirus cases -- using the mainland's tallying method that excludes asymptomatic patients -- and no deaths.
Source:The Standard
January 06, 2022 02:56 UTC
Beijing seals off its Olympic 'bubble'
Beijing Winter Olympics logo AFP FILE PHOTOBEIJING: Beijing sealed up its Winter Olympic "bubble" preparing the Games venues, transport and staff for the world's strictest mass sporting event since the global pandemic. China, where the virus emerged toward the end of 2019, has pursued a zero-tolerance strategy on Covid-19 and is taking the same approach to limit the pandemic's potential impact on the February 4-20 Winter Olympics and subsequent Paralympics. Starting Tuesday, thousands of Games-related staff, volunteers, cleaners, cooks and coach drivers will be cocooned for weeks in the so-called "closed loop" with no direct physical access to the outside world. That contrasts with the Covid-delayed Tokyo Summer Olympics, which allowed some movement in and out for volunteers and other personnel. Anyone entering the bubble must be fully vaccinated or face a 21-day quarantine when they touch down, and everyone inside will be tested daily and must wear masks at all times.
Source:Manila Times
January 06, 2022 01:11 UTC
COVID-19 forces closure of Guadalupe Church in Makati
A vaccine authorized in December for use in India may help solve one of the most vexing problems in global public health: How to supply lower-income countries with a COVID-19 vaccine that is safe, effective...
Source:Philippine Star
January 05, 2022 21:26 UTC
EJ vows to clear name amid 'estafa' charges
"I am saddened by the decision of the Patafa committee and their recommendations, but I am not really surprised," said Obiena, the world's 6th ranked pole vaulter and third best pole vaulter in the year 2021. I have said before that I will only not jump for the Philippines if Philip Juico doesn't let me jump for my country." Patafa will file charges against me for estafa even if I have already paid my coach the entire amount that is due him. "Philip Juico, in Petrov's own words, tricked him to issue statements to build a case against me. I will clear my name in court and I will clear my name in competition.
Source:Manila Times
January 05, 2022 19:25 UTC
NBA predictions for 2022
In the NBA, players continue to enter health and safety protocols but the season goes on. Westbrook tradeThe NBA rule of thumb in trades is that you always go for the superstar. The NBA is more complex, and college performance is not a reliable indicator. So many draft busts in the NBA were college stars and even NCAA champions. The Kings are one of the last teams to be considered as the Blue Devils in the NBA.
Source:Manila Times
January 05, 2022 19:11 UTC
Renowned money changer Berlin to close as Covid-19 takes toll on industry
Renowned for its attractive rates for exchanging foreign currencies, Berlin Company Exchange announced it will shut down starting next Thursday (Jan 13). Money changers across the globe have been badly hit by the Covid-19 pandemic, with business at a standstill for most due to travel restrictions. A notice set to be released following Monday by the money changer has been leaked online, which stated that it will cease to operate from January 13 due to the continued impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. The notice also thanked its customers’ support throughout the years. Berlin has for years been a top spot in the city for currency exchange due to its attractive exchange rates.
Source:The Standard
January 05, 2022 15:37 UTC
IATF approves resolution canceling Traslacion
Duterte said while the Black Nazarene procession or Traslacion is important to Catholics, the government has to implement measures to protect public health and safety. Duterte said he would write a letter to the Catholic Church formally requesting the canceling of the religious events. Epidemiologist John Wong cited the need to administer COVID-19 vaccines efficiently and to remind the public to avoid superspreader events. Booster jabsNograles reiterated the need to ramp up vaccination efforts as Metro Manila and nearby provinces record sharp increases in the number of infections. Galvez reported that as of December 28, Metro Manila has 10.4 million fully vaccinated persons with 6.5 million due for a booster dose.
Source:Philippine Star
January 05, 2022 13:47 UTC
Gov't urged to rethink travel bans, implement tighter quarantine measures instead
Gov't urged to rethink travel bans, implement tighter quarantine measures insteadMANILA, Philippines — The government should do away with its current restrictions on travel and instead apply stricter quarantine measures to all travelers arriving in the country to guard against emerging coronavirus variants, doctors said. ‘Travel ban not sustainable’Besa and Leachon said that travel restrictions are not sustainable as these could adversely affect livelihoods. He also urged the government to revisit the alert level system to limit unnecessary gatherings and non-essential travel. The country is dealing with a dramatic spike in COVID-19 cases in the past two weeks as new infections rose to its highest in two months. As of January 4, the country has recorded 5,434 new confirmed cases of COVID-19, bringing the total COVID-19 cases to 2,861,119.
Source:Philippine Star
January 05, 2022 08:44 UTC
Metro Manila now at ‘critical risk’ for Covid-19 transmission - Asia News Network
January 5, 2022MANILA, Philippines — Metro Manila is now at critical risk for COVID-19 transmission, based on the virus case trends, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said on Tuesday during the weekly taped briefing with President Rodrigo Duterte that aired late Tuesday night. According to Duque, Metro Manila now has the highest COVID-19 two-week growth rate (TWGR) at 1,475 percent and an average daily attack rate (ADAR) of 8.79. Duque made the announcement just a day after the Department of Health (DOH) classified the Philippines as high risk for COVID-19 transmission. Meanwhile, Calabarzon (Region 4A) is now also at high risk with 557 percent TWGR and 1.60 ADAR. All the other regions, Duque said, were at low to minimal risk for COVID-19 transmission.
Source:Philippine Daily Inquirer
January 05, 2022 07:15 UTC
No basis to arrest unvaccinated outside their homes, law expert says
No basis to arrest unvaccinated outside their homes, law expert saysFilipinos queue for RT-PCR swab tests at the Rizal Memorial Stadium in Manila on Tuesday, Jan. 4, 2022 as the Philippines records a sharp increase in new COVID-19 cases. MANILA, Philippines — A constitutional law expert said there is no legal basis to arrest unvaccinated individuals who are outside their homes. Former Integrated Bar of the Philippines president Domingo Egon Cayosa said there is no law or ordinance that prohibits an unvaccinated person from leaving their houses. Metro Manila mayors agreed in principle to restrict movements and activities of unvaccinated individuals and are set to issue ordinances to bar them from public places like malls and restaurants. He also stressed that the exercise of police power will still be based on the law or ordinances.
Source:Philippine Star
January 05, 2022 06:43 UTC
Human jawbone sends fisherman reeling in shau kei wan shelter
Part of what is suspected to be a human skull was found at Shau Kei Wan Typhoon Shelter by the owner of a boat while he was out fishing. Police received a report from the fishing boat owner at around 8am that he had discovered part of a suspected human skull. This is not the first time a human skull or part of one has been found at Shau Kei Wan Typhoon Shelter. In 2014, a suspected human skull was found when someone was fishing in a gap between rocks off the shelter. Similarly, in 2017, a fisherman had come upon a suspected human skull on the seabed when he was fishing off Lamma.
Source:The Standard
January 05, 2022 01:16 UTC