Other News
DepEd: No COVID cases reported in pilot week of face-to-face classes; 28 NCR schools to start pilot run on Dec. 6
(Eagle News) — There were no COVID-19 cases reported among participating learners and school personnel in the first week of the pilot implementation of face-to-face classes, according to the Department of Education on Thursday, December 2. Because of this Education Secretary Leonor Briones commended the “tremendous efforts that our valued stakeholders have provided for the successful and safe pilot run of limited face-to-face classes.” “The involvement of everybody is crucial to the expansion of […]
MIAA releases list of operational commercial flights for Friday, Dec. 3
(Eagle News) — The Manila International Airport Authority has released its list of operational commercial flights for Friday, Dec. 3: Flight schedules may change at any given time. MIAA advised passengers to coordinate with their airlines, noting that flight schedules are subject to changes. The Philippines has announced new quarantine and testing protocols for travelers allowed inside the country amid the Omicron threat. Under the new protocols, fully vaccinated travelers from countries not included in […]
Biden opens winter battle against Covid-19
by Sebastian Smith WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — US President Joe Biden announced Thursday a winter campaign against Covid-19, with new testing requirements for travelers and a surge in vaccination efforts. Biden has brought steady leadership after the chaotic Donald Trump years, but the mutating coronavirus continues to defy him, helping drive his approval ratings deep underwater. Urging the nation — in particular his political rivals — to unite behind the strategy, Biden unveiled a […]
DILG to candidates: Political rallies can be “super-spreaders,” are not allowed yet
(Eagle News) — The Department of the Interior and Local Government has reminded candidates and their supporters that political rallies are still not allowed, noting that they could be “super-spreaders” amid the Omicron threat. Interior Secretary Eduardo Año made the statement following what he said were gatherings of supporters for both national and local positions “here and there, which gather hundreds if not thousands of people.” He said these gatherings will only be allowed if […]
Northeast monsoon affecting Luzon, Visayas: PAGASA
(Eagle News) — The northeast monsoon is affecting Luzon and Visayas. According to the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration, as a result, Zamboanga Peninsula, Northern Mindanao, Caraga, and the southern portion of Palawan will have cloudy skies with scattered rain showers and thunderstorms. Flash floods or landslides during moderate to at times heavy rains are possible. Meanwhile, Cagayan Valley, Apayao, Kalinga, Ifugao, Mt. Province, and Aurora will have cloudy skies with light rains. […]
Lakers’ James clears NBA Covid protocols with negative tests
LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James has cleared the NBA’s Covid-19 safety protocols with two negative tests, the league said Thursday. “Following two negative PCR tests conducted more than 24 hours apart, Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James has cleared the NBA’s Health & Safety Protocols,” the NBA said in a statement. “James was originally placed in the Protocols on Tuesday, November 30 after a series of tests delivered […]
5 cases of Omicron variant confirmed in New York state: governor
NEW YORK, United States (AFP) — The state of New York has confirmed five cases of the coronavirus Omicron variant, Governor Kathy Hochul said Thursday, bringing the total number of US detections of the new strain to eight. “New York State has confirmed five cases of the omicron variant,” Hochul said in a Twitter post aimed at reassuring residents of the nation’s fourth most populous state that the detections were not unexpected. “Let me be […]
IATF revises protocols for int’l passengers from green list, yellow list countries amid Omicron threat
Starting Dec. 3, fully vaccinated travelers need negative RT-PCR test 3 days prior to travel, facility-based quarantine with RT-PCR test on 5th day upon arrival (Eagle News) — Starting Friday, December 3, fully vaccinated travelers from countries and territories under the so-called “green list” and “yellow list” are required to have a negative RT-PCR test within 3 days (72 hours) before their departure from their country of origin and should undergo a facility-based quarantine with […]
Reinfections three times more likely with Omicron: S. African research
JOHHANESBURG, South Africa (AFP) — A preliminary study by South African scientists published Thursday suggests the Omicron variant is three times more likely to cause reinfections compared to the Delta or Beta strains. The findings, based on data collected by the country’s health system, provides the first epidemiological evidence about Omicron’s ability to evade immunity from prior infection. The paper was uploaded on a medical preprint server and has not yet been peer-reviewed. There were […]
India announces first two cases of Omicron variant
NEW DELHI, India (AFP) — India announced its first two cases of the Omicron Covid variant on Thursday, months after a devastating wave of the virus killed more than 200,000 people around the country. Top health ministry official Luv Agarwal said two men in southern Karnataka state, aged 66 and 46, had tested positive for the variant. “As per the protocols all their primary and secondary contacts have been traced and are being tested,” he […]
US announces another case of Covid Omicron variant
WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — Health authorities in the midwestern US state of Minnesota announced Thursday they had found another case of the Omicron coronavirus variant on American soil, this time in a man with no known recent international travel history. Like the first identified US case in California, the patient was vaccinated, and had mild symptoms from which he has now recovered. Minnesota officials said he had also received a booster. He returned to […]
