Kappa: The continuing mutation of the COVID virus
The Department of Health (DOH) on Monday (Nov. 8) announced that the country has recorded its first case of the B.1.617.1 COVID-19 variant, known previously as Kappa. However, the WHO on Sept. 20 changed the variant’s designation to a variant under monitoring (VUM), according to Vergeire. The B.1.617 variant has three sub-lineages in total with different mutations: B.1.617.1 (Kappa), B.1.617.2 (Delta) and B.1.617.3 variant. While the term mutation might sound concerning, it is normal and not new in RNA viruses such as SARS-CoV-2. “In the United States, East Asians have been harassed and violently attacked for spreading ‘the China virus’,” it said.
Source:Philippine Daily Inquirer
November 11, 2021 06:39 UTC
France experiencing start of fifth wave of COVID epidemic – minister
PARIS – France is at the beginning of a fifth wave of the coronavirus epidemic, Health Minister Olivier Veran said on Wednesday. “Several neighboring countries are already in a fifth wave of the COVID epidemic, what we are experiencing in France clearly looks like the beginning of a fifth wave,” Veran said on TF1 television, adding the circulation of the virus was accelerating. ADVERTISEMENTThe health ministry registered 11,883 new cases on Wednesday, the second day in a row with a new case tally over 10,000. New cases have seen double-digit percentage increases week-on-week since around mid-October. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy PolicyFor more news about the novel coronavirus click here.
Source:Philippine Daily Inquirer
November 11, 2021 06:35 UTC
Philippines receives 866,970 procured Pfizer doses
Philippines receives 866,970 procured Pfizer dosesScreengrab shows workers unloading the crate containing the Philippines' new supply of Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine which arrived on November 10, 2021MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines on Wednesday night welcomed the arrival of 866,970 government-procured doses of Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine. An Air Hongkong plane carrying the jabs landed at the NAIA Terminal 3 in Pasay shortly before 9 p.m. of November 10. This shipment brought the Philippines' total supply of Pfizer to 32.98 million doses, according to a regular monitoring by Philstar.com. It makes up the second largest stockpile of vaccines in the country, next to Sinovac which has over 47.50 million doses. Of the entire Pfizer supply, 14.75 million doses were donations coursed through the COVAX Facility, while 18.22 million were purchased by the government.
Source:Philippine Star
November 11, 2021 05:52 UTC
10-year-old girl stays upbeat in battle vs leukemia
MANILA, Philippines — Between her and her daughter, Fatima Cuaresma admits that 10-year-old Hannah Sophia is the stronger one. After a bone marrow test pointed to ALL, Hannah started chemotherapy at Philippine Children’s Medical Center in Quezon City. When she’s in pain, she tells me or her father, but she never complains about being sick online,” Cuaresma said. These expenses do not include the laboratory tests required before chemotherapy sessions and for monitoring the young girl’s condition. Those who want to help Hannah can deposit their donations in her mother’s Landbank account (Fatima Grace U. Cuaresma, account no.
Source:Philippine Daily Inquirer
November 11, 2021 03:45 UTC
BIR says probing suppliers who cornered deals worth P42-B with PS-DBM
BIR says probing suppliers who cornered deals worth P42-B with PS-DBMPharmally director Linconn Ong in a September 24, 2021, Senate blue ribbon hearing confirms the validity of a photo that shows him meeting with President Rodrigo Duterte and his former economic adviser Michael Yang. Pharmally clinched a lion's share of these deals last year, edging out more established and better capitalized suppliers to bag deals worth nearly P10 billion as of September 2021. According to BIR, withholding taxes remitted by the PS-DBM for 2021 so far is at P736.99 million while P1.07 billion was withheld in 2020. "Can we have a special tax audit of these companies since these are very substantial amounts? "I cannot understand and I cannot accept the proposition that you spread out the examination to all the regional offices when, in fact...a special tax fraud investigation can be done."
Source:Philippine Star
November 11, 2021 01:03 UTC
PH to countries: It's time for real climate action
The Philippines called for an end to the climate change debates and for countries to begin taking tangible steps to meet their respective promises and "obligations to humanity" to save the Earth from environmental disaster. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO"The Philippines is determined to be a world leader in this fight against climate change," Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez 3rd told fellow leaders at the United Nations Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26) on Tuesday in Glasgow, Scotland. He said the country has established the most ambitious national target against climate change of any country, pledging to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 75 percent by 2030. He told other countries that now is the time to get down to business and build a climate justice framework, adding that those who polluted and continue to pollute the environment through unthinking industrialization must pay for the grants, investments, and subsidies needed for the world's most vulnerable countries to adapt to climate change. "We need to take advantage of the momentum calling for action," he continued, "and step up our response towards climate change."
Source:Manila Times
November 10, 2021 22:58 UTC
Comelec spox: Time to regulate substitution option for election aspirants
MANILA, Philippines — It is “perhaps” time to regulate the substitution of election aspirants so that it will not be done “on a whim,” the spokesperson of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) said Wednesday. In an online media briefing, Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez noted that substitution of election aspirants is allowed under the law. ADVERTISEMENT“By definition, it cannot be [called] abuse precisely because the law allows it to be done. Note that an independent candidate who withdraws does not have the right of substitution in that particular case,” he said. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy PolicyRead Next
Source:Philippine Daily Inquirer
November 10, 2021 21:38 UTC
New PH endemic tree species discovered
MANILA, Philippines — Botanists have discovered an endemic tree species that can only be found in the Dinagat Island. The tree was named ‘flexuosa’ because of its crooked branches. There are four other Tristaniopsis species discovered in the Philippines according to researchers, but the flexuosa does not bear “clear affinities” to them. “Tristaniopsis flexuosa does not show clear affinities to any other Philippine species. A specimen of the new tree species was deposited at the UPLB Museum of Natural History and Forestry Herbarium and Wood Collection, according to a UPLB report.
Source:Philippine Daily Inquirer
November 10, 2021 20:14 UTC
Nonstop ‘Katatawanan’ this Christmas season with newest addition of BuKo’s feel-good programs
Airing weekdays at 2PM, this horror comedy stars notable actors John Pratts, BJ Forbes, William Martinez, and Yayo Aguila, in a story that embraces the value of friendship and family. Daisy Siete was one of the longest-running daily afternoon romantic comedy-drama series in the Philippines, accounting to 26 seasons. Daddy Di Do Du airs weekdays at 6PM. For guaranteed feel-good weekends, BuKo also presents back to back classic Michael V. shows that are sure to knock your socks off with unlimited laughs. BuKo channel is available on Cignal TV Channel 2 and SatLite Channel 2, and on the Cignal Play app, available via App Store and Google Play.
Source:Manila Bulletin
November 10, 2021 20:08 UTC
Get all your shots or face entry ban
The pilot was one of three fully vaccinated flight crew members entitled to quarantine exemption who were yesterday confirmed with Covid-19, sparking concerns over whether such exemptions should be scrapped. Infectious disease expert Joseph Tsang Kay-yan from the Hong Kong Medical Association said: "The risk of infection in flight crews is the same as average citizens from overseas." Under Hong Kong's three-tier grouping, non-Hong Kong residents who are not fully vaccinated will not be allowed entry if they come from medium or high-risk countries. Hong Kong residents returning from medium-risk countries who are not fully vaccinated will be subject to 21-day compulsory quarantine at quarantine hotels. Fully vaccinated arrivals, whether SAR residents or not, will be subject to 14-day compulsory quarantine.
Source:The Standard
November 10, 2021 19:15 UTC
New respiratory therapists to take oath on Nov. 29
The new passers of the Licensure Examination for Respiratory Therapists will have their online oathtaking on Nov. 29, the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) announced Wednesday, Nov. 10. (PRC / MANILA BULLETIN)The online oathtaking at 9 a.m. will be spearheaded by PRC Cagayan de Oro through Microsoft Teams. In a Facebook post, PRC reminded inductees to wear formal or business attire and use a white backdrop throughout the oathtaking ceremony. Online appointment schedules must be secured at http://online.prc.gov.ph and select “e-OATH” as a transaction. Inductees are also required to print the “oath of professional” form that is downloadable at the PRC Online Services.
Source:Manila Bulletin
November 10, 2021 18:51 UTC
Coming soon: Oral, nasal Covid-19 vaccines
GENEVA: The World Health Organization's (WHO) chief scientist said Tuesday she was looking forward to the "second generation" of Covid-19 vaccines, which could include nasal sprays and oral versions. There could be advantages to some of the second generation vaccines... clearly if you have an oral vaccine or an intranasal vaccine this is easier to deliver than an injectable," she said. Swaminathan explained the advantages of a vaccine being sprayed into the nose, as happens in some countries with influenza vaccines. The WHO has only given emergency use authorization to seven Covid-19 vaccines: those created by Pfizer/BioNTech, Moderna, AstraZeneca, Johnson & Johnson, Sinopharm, Sinovac and last week Bharat Biotech. Nobody has ever claimed that the vaccines are going to be 100 percent protective.
Source:Manila Times
November 10, 2021 18:13 UTC
Task force: Bill to protect human rights defenders unnecessary, contrary to law
BAGUIO CITY, Philippines — The Human Rights Defenders bill that the Makabayan bloc is seeking passage of is unneccesary, members of the government's anti-communist task force said. RELATED: 'Truth tagging' rhetoric reaches SC as anti-terror law debate resumesHuman Rights Defenders Protection CommitteeThe text of House Bill No. But Catura argued "human rights defenders is not a job title", claiming also that "what the UN has directly stated is that the government, police and military are the defenders of human rights." Mary Lawlor, UN special rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders, in March called on Philippine legislators to make passage of a bill to protect human rights defenders a priority. "By prioritizing legislation to protect human rights defenders, the Philippines would join that group and send a clear message about their willingness to uphold their human rights obligations."
Source:Philippine Star
November 10, 2021 17:22 UTC
Duterte urges Comelec to allow limited assemblies during campaign period
Duterte urges Comelec to allow limited assemblies during campaign periodPresident Rodrigo Duterte speaks to the media after Sen. Christopher "Bong" Go filed his certificate of candidacy to join the vice presidential race in Pasay City, metro Manila on October 2, 2021. MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte has urged the Commission on Elections to allow limited assemblies during the campaign period, saying not all candidates can afford to buy airtime for television commercials. "That's the problem of Comelec - whether they will allow us to assemble because you cannot campaign by just shouting at one corner. Officials have vowed to ramp up the COVID-19 vaccination program to ensure a better Christmas and a safe election period. Vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr. has said the inoculation of the country's eligible population should be completed by February, the start of the campaign period for national posts.
Source:Philippine Star
November 10, 2021 16:54 UTC
It’s cocktail hour and the drinking is easy
(Pro tip: while you’re at it, keep cocktail hour cheeky with a spread of Berry’s Deli chorizos. Run rabbit run: Cocktails to goRun Rabbit Run makes a mean and positively delectable cocktail, and has pivoted so gracefully as to ensure that you can enjoy their offerings wherever you may choose to lounge. If you’d like to bump it up a notch from home drinker to home bartender, Run Rabbit Run also offers some of the best virtual classes for both private and corporate groups. You just choose your preferred drinks, then Run Rabbit Run will send out Craft Cocktail Class Kits (which can be customized to include corporate branding), as well as lead and moderate the class over Zoom. Whatever your level of involvement may be, Run Rabbit Run keeps it accessible, uncomplicated, and truly delicious.
Source:Philippine Star
November 10, 2021 16:53 UTC