THE PHILIPPINES posted 1,101 coronavirus infections in the past week, with the daily average 9% lower than a week earlier, according to the Department of Health (DoH). Of the new cases, two were severe and critical, it said in a bulletin on Monday. The DoH said it had verified 98 more deaths from Feb 6 […]
Tag: coronavirus
Philippines won’t revive coronavirus restrictions
THE PHILIPPINE government is unlikely to revive restrictions despite a World Health Organization (WHO) decision to keep the highest alert for the coronavirus, a Health official said on Tuesday. “We abide by the global declaration of a public health emergency,” Health officer-in-charge Maria Rosario S. Vergeire told a news briefing. But the country doesn’t have […]
DoH: Philippines recorded 1,206 coronavirus infections in past week
THE PHILIPPINES posted 1,206 coronavirus infections in the past week, with a daily average of 172, health authorities said on Monday. The average for Jan. 23 to 29 was 36% lower than a week earlier, the Department of Health (DoH) said in a bulletin. Of the new cases, only one was severe and critical. DoH […]
OCTA says Philippines at low risk from coronavirus
By Kyle Aristophere T. Atienza, Reporter THE PHILIPPINES remains at low risk from the coronavirus, pandemic monitoring group OCTA Research Group said on Monday, even as it cited a decline in the country’s RT-PCR testing output. “With low RT-PCR testing, we won’t be seeing huge numbers like in 2021 and early 2022,” OCTA fellow Fredegusto […]
Philippines warns of surge from new variants
By Kyle Aristophere T. Atienza, Reporter THE PHILIPPINES on Wednesday reported 128 more coronavirus infections involving Omicron subvariants, as local health authorities warned of a potential surge next month. There were 52 more cases of BA.2.3.20, one BN.1, 10 BA.5, 28 XBB and 13 XBC infections, the Department of Health (DoH) said in a report, […]
Philippines faces COVID uptick spurred by XBB 1.5, says OCTA
By Kyle Aristophere T. Atienza, Reporter THE PHILIPPINES should brace for an uptick in coronavirus infections spurred by the XBB 1.5 variant, even as the positivity rate in many areas including the capital region has declined, according to the OCTA Research Group. The Philippines would probably face an uptick in infections as early as February […]
DoH says no need to panic over slight increase in COVID cases
THE DEPARTMENT of Health (DoH) on Tuesday assured the public that last week’s slight uptick in coronavirus cases is not a cause for concern as all regions are still considered at low risk of the disease. “We have been monitoring every day the positivity rate and other COVID-19 cases which is 6% higher than the […]
Omicron subvariant BQ.1 cases rose to 17 — DoH
THE PHILIPPINES has detected one more infection involving the highly contagious Omicron subvariant BQ.1, bringing the total to 17, the Health department said on Tuesday. The patient came from the Western Visayas region, it said in a bulletin. The European Center for Disease Control considers BQ.1, a sublineage of Omicron BA.5, a variant of interest. […]
Philippines expects coronavirus spike during Christmas holidays
PHILIPPINE health authorities expect a spike in coronavirus infections during the holidays in the absence of restrictions. Daily infections could hit 1,114 to 2,294 by the end of December, while active cases could reach 18,000, the Department of Health (DoH) said on Tuesday. “With increased mobility, social gatherings and eased restrictions, we expect spikes to […]
CoA vows to audit Health department’s COVID vaccine purchases
THE COMMISSION on Audit’s (CoA) chairman, whose nomination was confirmed on Wednesday, vowed to audit coronavirus vaccine purchases of the Health department. The agency is not bound by confidentiality agreements signed by the Department of Health (DoH) and vaccine suppliers, national auditor Gamaliel A. Cordoba told lawmakers of the Commission on Appointments. “We will demand […]
Daily COVID cases won’t top 5,000, says expert
DAILY coronavirus infections in the Philippines would probably stay below 5,000 after the entry of a new Omicron subvariant and as Filipinos celebrate Christmas next month, an infectious diseases expert said on Monday. “Even if we see an increase in cases, most of them will likely be mild and won’t be needing hospitalizations,” Edsel Maurice […]
China’s zero-COVID policies save lives — but not livelihoods
A RIDER travels on an empty road after lockdown measures to curb the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Xian, Shaanxi province, China, Dec. 26, 2021 . — CNSPHOTO VIA REUTERS BEIJING — China’s ultra-strict coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) curbs are taking a toll on businesses and jobseekers as Beijing stresses again and again […]
Health workers demand unpaid allowances
FILIPINO health workers on Tuesday stormed the Department of Health headquarters in Manila to demand their unpaid allowances related to the coronavirus pandemic. They slammed the government for allegedly failing to allot enough funds for healthcare. The benefits include two allowance packages, one of which was expected to be released from January to June this […]
Daily coronavirus cases fell by 19%, says OCTA group
THE DAILY average of coronavirus infections in Manila, the capital and nearby cities has declined by 19%, according to the OCTA Research Group. The daily average had fallen to 862 cases in the week ending Aug. 29 from 1,062 a week earlier, OCTA Fellow Fredegusto P. David tweeted on Tuesday. The virus reproduction number fell […]
Rich-poor income gap slightly narrowed in 2021
AROUND 2.3 million Filipinos have been plunged into poverty between 2018 and 2021, as the coronavirus pandemic left lasting scars on the Philippine economy, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA). Read the full story.
Philippine COVID cases in past week hit 28,000 — DoH
THE PHILIPPINES posted 28,008 coronavirus infections in the past week, with a daily average of 4,001 cases, the Department of Health (DoH) said on Monday. The daily average from Aug. 8 to 14 rose by 3% from a week earlier, it said in a bulletin. DoH said it had verified 229 deaths in the past […]
Philippines’ tax effort eased in 2020
THE PHILIPPINES’ tax effort eased in 2020 due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) lockdowns, falling below the Asia-Pacific average, a study showed. Read the full story.
Marcos tests positive for COVID-19
Philippine President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr., has tested positive for the coronavirus, his press chief said on Friday. Mr. Marcos tested positive for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in an antigen test, Press Secretary Trixie Cruz-Angeles said in a news briefing. “He has a slight fever but he is otherwise okay,” she said. Ms. Cruz-Angeles and […]
Philippines’ factory picks up in May
MANUFACTURING ACTIVITY in the Philippines grew for a 14th straight month, buoyed by the further reopening of the economy as the number of coronavirus cases declined. Read the full story.
70M Filipinos fully vaccinated against the coronavirus
MORE than 70 million Filipinos have been fully vaccinated against the coronavirus, the government’s vaccine czar said at the weekend. The number is about 78% of the target population, vaccine czar Carlito G. Galvez, Jr. said in a statement, citing the latest government data. The Philippines started its vaccination program in March last year. Mr. […]