DOH logs 25 firecracker injuries ahead of New Year
DOH logs 25 firecracker injuries ahead of New YearA store attendant takes orders from buyers of firecrackers and pyrotechnic products in Bocaue, Bulacan in this undated photo. MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Health reported Wednesday 25 cases of firecracker-related injuries ahead of New Year’s Eve celebrations. The DOH said that injuries related to fireworks increased by 108% with 25 reported cases from December 21 to 29. About 28% of the reported cases required amputation. DOH Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire attributed the increase in infections to “holiday-related mobility and reduced compliance to minimum public health standards.” — Gaea Katreena Cabico
Source:Philippine Star
December 29, 2021 18:54 UTC
Omicron risk remains ‘very high’—WHO
GENEVA — The risk posed by the Omicron variant is still “very high”, the World Health Organization said Wednesday, after Covid-19 case numbers shot up by 11 percent globally last week. Omicron is behind rapid virus spikes in several countries, including those where it has already overtaken the previously-dominant Delta variant, the WHO said in its Covid-19 weekly epidemiological update. ADVERTISEMENT“The overall risk related to the new variant of concern Omicron remains very high,” the UN health agency said. It said early data from Britain, South Africa and Denmark — which currently has the world’s highest rate of infection per person — suggested there was a reduced risk of hospitalization for Omicron compared to Delta. More data was also required on how the severity might be being impacted by previous Covid infection, or vaccination.
Source:Philippine Daily Inquirer
December 29, 2021 17:14 UTC
Hong Kong police raid pro-democracy media outlet, arrest six
HONG KONG – Hundreds of Hong Kong national security police raided the office of online pro-democracy media outlet Stand News on Wednesday and arrested six people, including senior staff, for “conspiracy to publish seditious publications”. ADVERTISEMENTPolice said in a statement it was conducting a search with a warrant authorising it “to search and seize relevant journalistic materials”. The search operation is underway,” the statement said. FEATURED STORIESSedition is not a crime under the sweeping national security law imposed by Beijing on the city in June 2020. Authorities say the national security law has restored order after often-violent pro-democracy unrest in 2019 and that it does not curb rights and freedoms.
Source:Philippine Daily Inquirer
December 29, 2021 16:05 UTC
Support Typhoon Odette relief efforts through LazadaforGood
As parts of Visayas and Mindanao continue to face the aftermath of what is considered the strongest typhoon to hit the country this year, Lazada is encouraging Filipinos to unite and help Kababayans by providing support and relief to communities affected by Typhoon Odette. Donate now to support Typhoon Odette relief efforts through #LazadaForGood partner non-government organizations, including GMA News Foundation, World Vision, Save the Children, Unicef, and many more. Visit https://lzd.co/LazadaForGood for more details.
Source:Manila Times
December 29, 2021 16:02 UTC
PH’s COVID-19 death toll climbs to 51,241 with 28 new deaths – DOH
MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Health (DOH) on Wednesday reported 28 new COVID-19 deaths, raising the country’s death toll to 51,241. The DOH earlier explained that delays in the reporting of COVID-19 deaths are due to the late encoding of death information to the DOH’s COVIDKaya. FEATURED STORIESThe current death toll, meanwhile, still accounts for 1.80 percent of the total 2,839,790 confirmed COVID-19 cases in the country. Active infections, on the other hand, have passed the 10,000-mark at 10,418, after the DOH reported its highest number of daily cases since Nov. 27. The same goes for Metro Manila, where occupied ICU beds are currently at 23 percent, isolation beds at 21 percent, ward beds at 17 percent, and 14 percent for ventilators.
Source:Philippine Daily Inquirer
December 29, 2021 15:47 UTC
DOT to craft rehab, recovery plan for Odette-hit tourist destinations
DOT to craft rehab, recovery plan for Odette-hit tourist destinationsUprooted coconut trees and destroyed house are seen next to a sinage in General Luna, Siargao island on Dec. 21, 2021, days after super Typhoon Rai devastated the island. MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Tourism on Wednesday said it would create a rehabilitation and recovery plan for the tourist destinations affected by Typhoon Odette. “The plan will focus on addressing immediate concerns of affected tourism workers, such as cash-for-work or alternative livelihood programs and the reconstruction of affected facilities of various enterprises,” the DOT said. The DOT in cooperation with the Makati Med Foundation will continue with the vaccination program for tourism workers of Siargao. A total of 78 seaports have already operated anew in CALABARZON, MIMAROPA, Region 5, Region 9, Region 10 and CARAGA.
Source:Philippine Star
December 29, 2021 13:03 UTC
Three more staffers arrested in children's care home abuse case
On Wednesday morning, officers from the West Kowloon regional crime squad went through security footage recorded at the home and identified the new victim. The shocking abuse was revealed in the center's security footage where some staffers slapped the children's faces, poked at their eyes, pulled their hair, and threw the toddlers onto the ground in the playground. She added that there is no evidence of child abuse cases happening in other childcare centers or nursery schools under the society so far. Internal communication will also be strengthened, with staffers being required to report to management if there are suspected child abuse cases. Three staffers were arrested by police last Wednesday in connection to the case, two aged 23 and one aged 44.
Source:The Standard
December 29, 2021 12:50 UTC
PH population growth lowest in 75 years
MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine population is projected to increase by merely 0.3 percent or 324,000 in 2021, according to the Commission on Population and Development (Popcom). Popcom, in a statement, said that this annual “natural increase” is the lowest since the period between 1946 and 1947, when the population grew by 254,000. ‘Natural increase’The “natural increase” in population, or natural population change, refers to the projection based on the number of births minus deaths in a particular time period. The natural increase in population that year was 0.79 percent. “If integrated population and development measures are sustained, we can look forward to a more stable population that can effectively support Philippine development.
Source:Philippine Daily Inquirer
December 29, 2021 12:48 UTC
Private sector awaits last batch of AstraZeneca jabs
Private sector awaits last batch of AstraZeneca jabsIn this file photo a nurse picks up a bottle of the AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine during a mass vaccination campaign for people between ages of 50 to 55 in Vigo, northwestern Spain, on March 13, 2021. The COVID-19 shots provided by AstraZeneca were used to inoculate private sector workers, providing them with ample protection as the country reopened its economy. “With the arrival of additional shots, we will have enough supply to complete the vaccination of private sector workers. The Go Negosyo founder said he organized a meeting between AstraZeneca and more than 350 private companies for the purchase of COVID-19 vaccines as booster shots for private sector workers starting next year. First to be delivered are 1,357,300 Moderna doses on Korean Air flight KE 345, followed by 1,981,500 AstraZeneca vaccines on Korean Air flight KE 621 and lastly, 1,230,800 Moderna jabs on Korean Air flight KE 623.
Source:Philippine Star
December 29, 2021 07:32 UTC
NBA shortens path to return to play
NBA players who test positive for Covid-19 now have a quicker path to return to play after the league completed a significant update to its health and safety protocols on Monday. Teams were told of the new protocols Monday in a memo sent by the league, a copy of which was obtained by The Associated Press. The NBA also relied on data, telling teams the updated protocols "reflects analysis of testing data that the league and its infectious disease experts and epidemiologists have gathered throughout the pandemic." The NBA has seen coronavirus numbers soar in recent days, even with 97 percent of players vaccinated and at least 65 percent of eligible players boosted against the virus. A pair of coaches — Phoenix's Monty Williams and Portland's Chauncey Billups — entered the NBA's health and safety protocols Monday (Tuesday in Manila).
Source:Manila Times
December 29, 2021 04:12 UTC
Toddler's heartbreaking fight to survive after 10-story fall
Sources said the boy was conscious with minor visual injuries on his chest and legs when rescuers found him. The cause of the boy's fall is under investigation and no one had been arrested as of yesterday. Their skulls, which are not fully developed, may not be injured in a fall - like a balloon falling to the ground. Separately, the chairman of listed company Alco Holdings, Wilson Leung Wai-sing, fell to his death at his company's old factory in Quarry Bay. Officers believe Leung fell from the roof of the building and will contact his relatives and friends to learn more about what happened.
Source:The Standard
December 29, 2021 03:32 UTC
November exports rise 25pc
Staff reporterHong Kong's exports rose 25 percent year-on-year in November, beating estimates while the nominal average wage rate rose 1.3 percent in September from a year ago, government data showed. Imports also rose by 20 percent, leading to a visible trade deficit of HK$11.6 billion, the Census and Statistics Department said. The department also released wage and payroll statistics yesterday which showed that after discounting changes in consumer prices, the overall average wage rate decreased by 0.2 percent in real terms in September over a year earlier. In payrolls, the index of payroll per person increased by 1.1 percent in nominal terms in the third quarter from a year ago but decreased by 1.1 percent in real terms after taking inflation into consideration. The government said that the latest figures indicated the situation up to September 2021 only and with the Covid pandemic remaining under control in the city and the economy continuing to recover, the employment and income conditions should continue to improve.
Source:The Standard
December 29, 2021 01:15 UTC
Global economy rebounds, but for how long?
PARIS: The world economy woke up from its pandemic-induced coma in 2021, but between the Omicron variant causing renewed disruptions and persistent inflation pushing central banks to pump the brakes, the outlook is uncertain. The United States has overcome its worst downturn since the Great Depression while the eurozone's economy could return to pre-pandemic levels by the end of the year. But the rapid spread of the Omicron variant has prompted many countries to reimpose restrictions that are likely to hurt the travel and leisure sectors first and foremost. With a single-digit vaccination rate, the economy of sub-Saharan Africa will grow at a slower click, according to the International Monetary Fund. China, the world's second-biggest economy and a driver of global growth, is facing a slew of risks: new coronavirus cases, an energy crunch and fears over the debt crisis at real estate giant Evergrande.
Source:Manila Times
December 28, 2021 22:06 UTC
Private sector to help govt hit jab goal
Go Negosyo's inoculation initiative was a tripartite agreement with the private sector and local government units with the pharmaceutical company. The AstraZeneca vaccines were used to inoculate workers from the private sector to give them ample protection as the country is slowly but steadily reopening its economy. "With the arrival of additional shots, we will have enough supply to complete the vaccination of private sector workers. This was echoed by Ramin who expressed AstraZeneca's solidarity with the bayanihan spirit of the government and the private sector. This significant milestone is a symbol of hope and I am truly inspired by all the tireless efforts of the private sector and the national government in making this possible," he said.
Source:Manila Times
December 28, 2021 22:06 UTC