Tag: covid

PHL gov’t conducts final inspection of mega-swabbing center at PHL Sports Stadium inside Ciudad de Victoria

Thanks Iglesia Ni Cristo (Church Of Christ) Executive Minister Brother Eduardo V. Manalo for Church’s help in gov’t’s fight against COVID-19 (Eagle News) – The Philippine government conducted its final inspection on Wednesday, May 20, 2020, of the mega swabbing center at the Philippine Sports Stadium inside the Ciudad de Victoria compound in Bocaue Bulacan. Once operational, the mega-swabbing center can accommodate up to 1,500 swab tests per day, which will make it the biggest […]

US President Trump says he is taking hydroxychloroquine

by Sebastian Smith Agence France Presse WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — President Donald Trump on Monday made the surprise announcement that he is taking hydroxychloroquine, an anti-malaria drug that his own government experts say is not suitable for fighting the novel coronavirus. Trump, noting that he has tested negative for the virus and shows no symptoms, said he’d been taking the drug as a preventative measure for about a week and a half. “I take […]

Global coronavirus cases surpass 4.9 million, as COVID-19 deaths reach at least 323,333

US still the country with the most cases, deaths Screensgrab of Johns Hopkins University virus dashboard on COVID-19 cases worldwide as of 12:32 p.m., May 20, 2020. (Courtesy Johns Hopkins University) (Eagle News) – Global coronavirus cases have surpassed 4.9 million with the United States still the country with the most confirmed cases at more than 1.5 million, according to the latest tally from Johns Hopkins University virus dashboard. The number of COVID-19 related deaths […]

PHL Red Cross set to open bio-molecular lab in Cebu City, bares plans to open more COVID labs nationwide

(Eagle News) – The Philippine Red Cross (PRC) is set to open another bio-molecular laboratory, this time in Cebu City, which is currently still under the stricter protocols of Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) that will build testing capacity in the Central Visayas region, even as it announced plans to open 19 more laboratiories nationwide for COVID-19 testing, PRC had already opened two testing centers in its national headquarters in Mandaluyong City that are both equipped […]

Scientists in China believe new drug can stop pandemic ‘without vaccine’

  by Qian Ye and Matthew Knight Agence France Presse BEIJING, China (AFP) — A Chinese laboratory has been developing a drug it believes has the power to bring the coronavirus pandemic to a halt. The outbreak first emerged in China late last year before spreading across the world, prompting an international race to find treatments and vaccines. A drug being tested by scientists at China’s prestigious Peking University could not only shorten the recovery […]

Palace seeks OWWA inventory amid OFWs’ complaints on long wait for COVID-19 results in quarantine centers

Roque says President Duterte concerned with plight of OFWs under quarantine   (Eagle News) – Malacanang said that it would already take action on concerns by repatriated overseas Filipinos who had complained of how they had been staying for almost a month in some quarantine facilities without knowing their COVID-19 test results. Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said that he had been hearing reports on the plight of these OFWs who had been under quarantine for […]

Palace warns “we don’t have enough beds, if you get sick with COVID”; asks people to limit outside movement

Says COVID cases can double to 24,000 in 2 weeks’ time if people won’t follow rules   (Eagle News) – Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque reminded the public to limit going outside of their homes as he warned of a spike in COVID cases in the next few days, and even double to 24,000 in two weeks time, if people would continue to defy quarantine protocols. Roque said that if people would continue to violate social […]

President Duterte scheduled to return to Malacanang for IATF meeting later – Roque

  (Eagle News) – President Rodrigo Duterte is set to return to Malacanang today, Monday, May 18, after returning home to Davao City on Saturday, May 16, with the easing of quarantine restrictions in Luzon. Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque confirmed that the President will return in time for the Inter-Agency Task Force meeting later. But he said that Duterte still worked even while in Davao City and, in fact, still haven’t seen his grandchildren. Duterte […]

Palace alarmed with violation of social distancing protocols as people flock to malls; warns possibility of 2nd wave

(Eagle News) — Malacanang reminded the public not to put to waste previous sacrifices made during lockdown after receiving numerous reports of people flocking to malls nationwide upon easing of lockdown protocols in Luzon over the weekend. Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said that the people should not think that they are already “safe” from the virus, and reminded Filipinos of what happened in other countries that experienced a second wave of COVID-19 infections following easing […]

S.Africa reports 24-hour record of 1,160 new virus cases

  by Susan NJANJI Agence France Presse JOHANNESBURG, South Africa (AFP) — South Africa on Sunday reported 1,160 new coronavirus infections, the highest daily number since the first case was recorded in March, data released by the health ministry showed “As of today, the total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in South Africa is 15,515 with 1,160 new cases identified in the last 24 hour cycle of testing,” said the ministry statement. The Western Cape […]

UK govt boosts vaccine funding as daily virus deaths fall

by Joe JACKSON Agence France Presse LONDON, United Kingdom (AFP) — Britain on Sunday reported 170 more coronavirus deaths — its lowest number since late March, when lockdown restrictions were introduced, although the figures from Northern Ireland were not included. Prime Minister Boris Johnson meanwhile acknowledged public frustration with the restrictions imposed to fight the virus. The deaths take the government’s official rolling tally of fatalities, which includes all positive cases after tests, to 34,636 […]

Hamster tests show masks reduce coronavirus spread: scientists

  HONG KONG, China (AFP) — Tests on hamsters reveal the widespread use of facemasks reduces transmission of the deadly coronavirus, a team of leading experts in Hong Kong said Sunday. The research by the University of Hong Kong is some of the first to specifically investigate whether masks can stop symptomatic and asymptomatic COVID-19 carriers from infecting others. Led by Professor Yuen Kwok-yung, one of the world’s top coronavirus experts, the team placed hamsters […]