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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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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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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…
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Metro Manila ready for GCQ
By Fernan Angeles CITING figures that saw a declining trend in figures representing cases of COVID-19 contamination, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana hinted Metro Manila could be ready to return to general community quarantine (GCQ) status on August 18. Lorenzana, who is also the National Task Force against COVID-19 chairman Delfin Lorenzana, said: “Yes, I think…
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Western Visayas back to hard lockdown
By John Clifford Lintao THE highly-infectious coronavirus disease is on a rampage in Western Visayas, prompting the re-imposition of stricter health measures, including longer curfews and selective lockdowns. Aside from the hard lockdown in provinces and cities in the region, Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas urged Iloilo Jaro Archbishop Jose Romeo Lazo to seriously consider…
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Drivers, conductors now required to wear face shields
By John Clifford Lintao The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) has amended a memorandum circular requiring not just passengers, but the drivers and conductors of public utility vehicles (PUVs) nationwide to also wear face shields starting Aug. 15. In amending a previous circular, the LTFRB issued Memorandum Circular No. 2020-33, which was issued…
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Shamcey Supsup-Lee: ‘The pandemic took away many things from us’
Miss Universe Philippines National Director Shamcey Supsup-Lee has revealed that the COVID-19 crisis has taken so many things from her but she remains strong because of her family. “This pandemic took away so many things from us; our livelihood, our businesses, our security and the lives of our loved ones. It has given me so…