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COVID-19 infections in PHL near 140,000-mark
MANILA — Nearly 140,000 coronavirus infections have been recorded in the Philippines as the country’s health department reported 2,987 additional cases on Tuesday, August 11. In its latest bulletin, the Department of Health (DOH) said the cumulative total of COVID-19 cases in the country has reached 139,538, of which, 68,794 are active. Active cases refer…
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Forget bird flu — ostrich fever is gripping PHL
MANILA — Why did the ostrich cross the road? And what misfortune befell its missing companion? These questions have vexed Filipinos for the past week, offering a mental break from more-prosaic concerns such as mounting coronavirus cases and a government crackdown on dissent. The tale of the two birds begins in Quezon City, part of…
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Russia is first country to develop a COVID-19 vaccine
MOSCOW – President Vladimir Putin said on Tuesday that Russia had become the first country in the world to grant regulatory approval to a COVID-19 vaccine after less than two months of human testing, a move hailed by Moscow as evidence of its scientific prowess. The development paves the way for the mass inoculation of…
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Accord to push criminal forfeitures of laundered money signed
The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) and the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) signed today, August 11, a memorandum of agreement (MOA) which would effectively implement criminal and civil forfeitures of laundered money believed to be proceeds of illegal activities. The signatories were PDEA Director General Wilkins M. Villanueva and AMLC Executive Director Atty. Mel Georgie…
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US study reveals best and worst kinds of face masks
WASHINGTON – Health experts have determined that face coverings are a vital tool in reducing the spread of coronavirus — but little research has been done into how different kinds of masks compare. A new study has ranked 14 types of commonly available mask, finding that medical masks offer significantly more protection against droplet spread…
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Go on leave, DOJ urges entire PhilHealth board
By Fernan Angeles THOSE at the helm of the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation should seriously consider going on a “leave,” Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said on Monday, August 10. Guevarra did not name names but apparently he was referring to the entire board of the embattled agency. The justice chief also expressed hope PhilHealth officials…
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House approves second ‘Bayanihan’ bill
By Fernan Angeles OVERWHELMING best describes the manner in which the House of Representatives approved the Bayanihan to Recover as One Act or Bayanihan 2, outlining P162 billion-worth of response interventions to help the country recover from the COVID-19 crisis and boost the economy. With a vote of 242 in the affirmative, six in the…
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Rapid test not advisable for initial COVID-19 screening
By John Clifford Lintao THE Department of Health (DOH) hinted at dropping the use of rapid antibody testing for screening people for COVID-19. However, the DOH is not bent on proposing a total ban on it as it can still be used for recovering COVID-19 patients. It added that the rapid antibody testing should just…
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Wear face mask at home, says Año
By Fernan Angeles Interior and Local Government Secretary Eduardo Año hinted at the need to wear face masks even at home. In a television interview, Año advised families to observe physical distancing – or better yet, wear face masks even inside their homes adding that the public should be made aware that transmission also take…
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IATF needs to balance health and economy, says Roque
By Fernan Angeles RESPONDING to calls for Malacañang to extend an existing lockdown in Metro Manila and adjoining provinces, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque hinted at the need to effectively balance between health and economy – something that the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases should be on top of. The President…