Quarantine-free travel schemes from Macau to resume next Tue
Authorities have announced that the quarantine-free Return2hk and Come2hk schemes for travellers from Macau will resume from next Tuesday. The schemes have been suspended for travellers from Macau since September 25, after the gambling hub saw an infection cluster of security guards in a designated quarantine hotel. In a press statement on Thursday, Hong Kong authorities announced that they will reopen the schemes to travelers from Macau. Those who are Hong Kong ID holders can come home via the Return2hk scheme, with a daily quota set at 2,000 arrivals from Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge and another 3,000 for Shenzhen Bay Port. Those with Macau ID cards and other mainland identity documents can come via the Come2hk scheme, with the daily quota is set at 1,000 for the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge and another 1,000 for Shenzhen Bay Port.
Source:The Standard
October 28, 2021 17:43 UTC
Low rates in COVID-19 jab rollout, testing are factors in Philippines’ low resiliency score
New cases have fallen 57 percent since early September, with experts attributing the fall to increased immunity. The number of new Covid-19 cases in the United States has dropped by nearly a quarter in...
Source:Philippine Star
October 28, 2021 17:06 UTC
Dentists to augment vaccinator force
THE Department of Health (DoH) announced on Thursday that it will enlist dentists as vaccinators for the Covid-19 inoculation of adolescents aged 12 to 17 beginning November 3 in the National Capital Region (NCR) and in the entire country starting November 5. National Vaccination Operations Center chief Myrna Cabotaje"We looked at the possibility of dentists doing vaccinations; there was an exchange between the Professional Regulatory Commission to see if we could tap dentists as vaccinators. Health Secretary Duque said dentists have no problem injecting drugs in the mouth, which is a more difficult area to work on," National Vaccination Operations Center chief Myrna Cabotaje said in a media briefing on Wednesday. The suggestion to enlist dentists to beef up the country's vaccinator force against Covid-19 came from Metro Manila Development Authority Chairman Benjamin Abalos Jr."Our local government units in the NCR are confident, and based on our October 29 experience, we could see that we can go ahead with pediatric vaccination," Cabotaje added. The Philippines aims to inoculate at least 12.72 million adolescents, with the majority of them located in the Calabarzon Region (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon) and the NCR.
Source:Manila Times
October 28, 2021 16:55 UTC
High court won't hear Brad Pitt divorce appeal
Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt AP PHOTOSAN FRANCISCO: The California Supreme Court refused to consider Brad Pitt's appeal of a court ruling that disqualified the judge in his custody battle with Angelina Jolie. The court denied a review of a decision that said the private judge should be disqualified for failing to disclose his business relationships with Pitt's attorneys. The state Supreme Court's decision finalizes that ruling. It means the fight over the couple's five children — which was nearing an end — could just be getting started. The child custody issues were separated from the divorce proceedings.
Source:Manila Times
October 28, 2021 16:21 UTC
Covid-19 vaccine could become like yearly flu shot, says health expert
With the delta variant continuing to pose a significant threat to the world, regular Covid-19 vaccinations may become the new normal, said a health expert. He said it is possible that people may need regular booster shots each year to make sure we continue to be protected. However, he said if newer versions of the Covid vaccine targeting the Delta variant are developed, it may further extend the time for another booster jab. Experts from two Department of Health scientific committees on Wednesday night recommended that people with weak immunity and others facing high risks from the coronavirus should get a third Covid-19 shot. People who received the Beijing-made Sinovac vaccine can switch to German-made BioNTech shots for the booster, with studies showing the BioNTech jabs can produce a higher antibody level.
Source:The Standard
October 28, 2021 14:40 UTC
Negros Oriental battles third wave of COVID-19
DUMAGUETE CITY, Negros Oriental, Philippines — While coronavirus cases have been reported dropping in many parts of the country, Negros Oriental is battling a third wave of infections driven by the highly transmissible Delta variant of COVID-19. “Majority of the samples [we] sent to the Philippine Genome Center turned out as Delta variant,” said Dr. Nikko Paolo Cablao, head of the Negros Oriental Molecular Laboratory. As of Oct. 26, Negros Oriental logged 3,111 active cases of COVID-19, the highest in Central Visayas region, according to the Department of Health (DOH). Cablao called on Negros Oriental residents to be vigilant and follow health protocols to control the surge. Travel requirementsDespite the rise in COVID-19 cases, Negros Oriental will no longer require a negative swab test result for fully vaccinated travelers arriving in the province starting Nov. 1.
Source:Philippine Daily Inquirer
October 28, 2021 05:54 UTC
Top U.S. general confirms ‘very concerning’ Chinese hypersonic weapons test
The Pentagon has been at pains to avoid direct confirmation of the Chinese test this summer, first reported by the Financial Times, even as President Joe Biden and other officials have expressed general concerns about Chinese hypersonic weapons development. “What we saw was a very significant event of a test of a hypersonic weapon system. Nuclear arms experts say China’s weapons test appeared to be designed to evade U.S. defenses in two ways. China’s foreign ministry denied a weapons test. The United States and Russia have both tested hypersonic weapons.
Source:Philippine Daily Inquirer
October 28, 2021 05:50 UTC
Be courteous? ‘Filipinos know who abused power,’ Gordon tells Duterte
ADVERTISEMENTDuterte said Gordon has to be courteous if he wants to be treated with courtesy. “If it is arrogance of power the President is so concerned about, our people know too well who between us has abused his power and has enabled massive corruption to permeate in our government,” he added. During Monday’s Talk to the People briefing, Duterte hit Gordon anew, particularly on the senator “shouting” at resource speakers invited to the hearings. While Duterte welcomes the move, he said he will defend the order and is eager to face the Senate’s legal challenge. RELATED STORY:Duterte welcomes Senate challenge to bring snub order to SCJPVSubscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address.
Source:Philippine Daily Inquirer
October 27, 2021 23:28 UTC
'We have to vaccinate everyone'
In the virtual forum organized by The Manila Times, Concepcion said the country has to vaccinate to "the max" and focus on addressing the vaccine hesitancy particularly in the provinces. "We have to vaccinate everyone.... I believe that vaccine hesitancy in the provinces, unless addressed, it is going to be a slow turnout," he said. Vaccinate, vaccinate, vaccinate to the max and focus on those sectors, which have the highest level of vaccine hesitancy," Concepcion continued. "Let's vaccinate our children.
Source:Manila Times
October 27, 2021 22:51 UTC
Frozen foods are hot hot hot!
Frozen foods are hot hot hot! Rico’s Frozen Lechon Baka is now available in leading supermarkets and grocery storesThe public’s perception of frozen foods has thawed, in part due to convenience and affordability. Rico’s Lechon frozen goodies such as Lechon Baboy, Dinuguan Special, Lechon Paksiw, Lechon Sisig, Lechon Pares, Lechon Binagoongan and Lechon Humba became instant (pandemic) hits. Enjoy your lechon baka in tausi sauce with ampalaya, lechon baka gyudon rice bowl, stir-fried chili garlic lechon baka or into a savory Philly cheesesteak sandwich. * * *Rico’s Frozen Lechon Baka and other food packs in all leading supermarkets, groceries, and convenience stores in Metro Manila and selected provinces.
Source:Philippine Star
October 27, 2021 19:56 UTC
Pandemic hit on jobs worse than thought – UN
"Dramatically, unequal vaccine distribution and fiscal capacities are driving these trends, and both need to be addressed urgently." The ILO projected that global hours worked in 2021 will be 4.3 percent lower than levels in the fourth quarter of 2019, prior to the outbreak of the pandemic. In June, the ILO had been projecting a decline of 3.5 percent, or 100 million full-time jobs. High-income countries fared better, suffering 3.6 percent decline in total hours worked in the third quarter of this year, the ILO calculated. The ILO also found that young people, especially young women, have been among the hardest hit by the impact on jobs of the pandemic.
Source:Manila Times
October 27, 2021 16:25 UTC
The Marcos years according to statistics
The Marcos years according to statisticsI respect Bongbong’s right to run for president. It was our generation that suffered through the failures of Marcos monopolies (hence, the power crisis, telecom crisis, PAL bankruptcy, water crisis, etc.). The tragedy is that the majority of Marcos’ projects failed to contribute to job generation and economic productivity. Economists agree that the Philippine economic collapse of the 80’s was due to Marcos’ debt-driven economic policy. The Marcos era was not a golden era but the years in which our once strong economy slowly discombobulated.
Source:Philippine Star
October 27, 2021 11:00 UTC
Call for bone marrow donation for leukemia girl
A nine-year-old girl is in urgent need of bone marrow donation to fight her acute leukemia. Friends of Charlotte’s mother made a post on the Internet calling for people between 18 and 50 to go for blood donation and register themselves as bone marrow donors. The Red Cross will test donors’ blood to see if it is suitable for Charlotte. She is now staying at Hong Kong Children’s Hospital in Kai TakDue to border restrictions amid the ongoing pandemic, Charlotte can only match with the local Bone Marrow Donor Registry. As of the end of 2020, more than 149,000 people in Hong Kong have registered for voluntary bone marrow donation, and 653 of them have made donations.
Source:The Standard
October 27, 2021 05:38 UTC
Tests on ‘lagundi’ as COVID-19 treatment ‘promising’ – DOST
MANILA, Philippines — The clinical trials on herbal medicine “lagundi” as a supplemental treatment for COVID-19 patients have shown “promising results” in decreasing the symptoms in mild cases, especially the loss of the sense of smell, according to Science Secretary Fortunato dela Peña. “In stage two, they found promising results on the effects of lagundi in decreasing the symptoms during mild COVID disease, especially for anosmia or loss of the sense of smell, and overall relief of discomfort due to other symptoms,” Dela Peña said. For the hospital trials handled by the University of the Philippines – Philippine General Hospital (UP-PGH), 77 COVID-19 patients participated regardless of the severity of their case. For hospitalized patientsAccording to Dela Peña, the initial findings of the hospital trials for VCO have not yet established any benefit for hospitalized patients. Herbal medicines such as lagundi and VCO are only considered as adjunctive, or supplementary, treatments to be used in addition to medicines that are proven to be effective against COVID-19.
Source:Philippine Daily Inquirer
October 27, 2021 02:52 UTC
Philippine Navy holds antiterror exercises
ZAMBOANGA CITY, Zamboanga del Sur, Philippines — Almost a thousand troops from the Philippine Navy are participating in a weeklong military exercise in various sites in the terrorism-plagued provinces of Basilan, Sulu, and Tawi-Tawi. The weeklong training is dubbed Exercise Pagsisikap 2021, which will mainly involve amphibious landings whereby troops are released from the sea and negotiate their way into an island. Rosario said there was a need for troops to familiarize themselves with the new armaments especially now that Philippine Navy vessels are equipped with missiles. Alan Javier, deputy commander for fleet operations and in charge of the overall exercise, said all the participating troops were deployed to the areas on Oct. 24. Nine ships including an MPAC with missiles, a helicopter, and marines’ amphibious attack vessels were also stationed in Basilan, Sulu, and Tawi-Tawi for the exercise.
Source:Philippine Daily Inquirer
October 27, 2021 02:48 UTC