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No way to vaccinate 70 million Filipinos in a year
By Fernan Angeles GIVEN the tall task of securing supplies for international pharmaceutical companies behind the COVID-19 vaccines, there is no way to be able to vaccinate 70 million Filipinos in a span of one year, says Health Undersecretary Rosario Vergeire. Echoing the statement of National Task Force vs. COVID-19 chief Carlito Galvez, Jr. who…
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Vaccine priorities identified, vaccination starts early 2021
By Fernan Angeles THE government hinted at prioritizing vaccination in areas with a minimum recorded COVID-19 active cases of 3,000 and up, says vaccine czar Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. on Thursday. In a statement, Galvez said that among the areas that the government is particularly looking at Bacolod, Iloilo, Cebu and Tacloban, even as the…
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Trial on Avigan, anti-influenza drug, has begun
By John Clifford Lintao JAPAN’s anti-influenza drug Avigan has commenced testing in the Philippines for its effectivity against COVID-19, says Health Undersecretary Rosario Vergeire. “For Avigan trial, nag-umpisa tayo noong November 20 and we already have 8 participants,” Vergeire said in a virtual press briefing. Avigan, the Japanese brand for favipiravir, previously showed promising results…
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Villar observes World Toilet Day
CITING the importance of proper sanitation in our lives and the economy, Sen. Cynthia A. Villar has been actively joining the celebration of World Toilet Day every November 19. “We should be clean at all times to maintain good health. A dirty environment poses dangers to our health because it causes many diseases,” said Villar,…
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Gov’t to borrow US$300M for COVID-19 vaccines
By Fernan Angeles PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte appealed to the public not to fear COVID-19 because vaccines would soon be available for the Filipinos. However, the President hinted on the idea of borrowing funds to defray its cost. “Hindi na nakakatakot ang COVID-19. Andito na ang bakuna,” said the President in his taped public address. The…
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SC associate justice steps down after 3 months
By Fernan Angeles THREE months. That’s all that Justice Priscilla Baltazar-Padilla could serve at the Supreme Court as she chose to step down due to health reasons. Baltazar-Padilla, who was appointed as SC Associate Justice three months ago, should be retiring in 2028. In an announcement, the Supreme Court granted her application for disability retirement.…
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MGCQ for entire PH by first quarter of 2021
By Fernan Angeles BY the first quarter of next year, the entire country would have been placed under the most relaxed community quarantine protocol, says Health Undersecretary Rosario Vergeire. Vergeire said the DOH along with the Inter-Agency Task Force against COVID-19 have already set their target seen to determine whether or not a local government…
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PRO 1 lists 123 COVID cases, 111 recoveries
By Mar T. Supnad CAMP BGEN OSCAR M FLORENDO, La Union – Police Regional Office 1 reported today, Oct. 22, that there are 123 new COVID-19 infections bringing to 2,319 the total number of personnel who were tested positive for the virus. Police Colonel Jessiemyr N Protacio, Chief, Regional Health Service 1, reported that as…
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Las Pinas COVID-19 laboratory now open
The COVID-19 testing laboratory which will serve patients in Las Pinas City is now opening its doors and starting operations to help improve the country’s testing capacity and recovery rate for the new coronavirus disease. A team of experts went to the COVID testing facility of the Las Pinas General Hospital and Satellite Trauma Center…
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Gov’t may enforce ban on home quarantine
By John Clifford Lintao TOP government officials who would be infected with COVID-19 would soon be joining hundreds or thousands of ordinary citizens in government-designated quarantine facilities as the Department of Health underscored the need to immediately effect the proposal of COVID-19 Inter-Agency Task Force to prohibit home quarantine for COVID-19 patients and their close…