Philippines

The country’s agricultural chief has told retailers and customers that public markets will continue to function in Metro Manila given the increased neighborhood quarantine being enforced throughout Luzon. In a television interview, Agriculture Secretary William Dar said public markets were part of the “key” institutions that President Duterte had exempted from the lockdown, which also included banks, supermarkets and pharmacies. …

On Thursday the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) urged the public to disinfect their households with the correct proportion of bleaching agents as a precautionary measure to combat COVID-19 spread. Environment chief Roy Cimatu said in a statement that a combination of 10 to 15 per cent of bleaching agents or hypochlorite sodium and clean water should be …

The number of people who tested positive for the country’s 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has reached 217, with 15 new cases reported as of Thursday afternoon. It was also announced that one confirmed case had recovered from the disease bringing the total number of patients recovered to eight, the Department of Health (DOH) said. The recovered patient (PH20) is a …

Following the example of scientists in other countries, U.S. researchers have conducted experiments to see whether readily available, low-cost generic medicines can be used to help cure the disease caused by the modern coronavirus. There are currently no vaccines or therapies for extremely infectious respiratory disease COVID-19, and patients can only provide supportive care for the time being. But a …

Top Philippine banks gave consumer and small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) loan customers a grace period, giving them leeway during Luzon’s month-long coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic lockdown. BDO Unibank, the country’s largest lender, gave the longest 60 day grace period, covering credit card, auto, home, SME and personal loan customers with due dates up to April 15, 2020. Bank of the …

Qatar Airways on Monday handed a letter of resignation to about 200 Filipinos who worked for the company.   According to David Desang, Philippine Labor Attaché in Qatar, the dismissal of workers takes effect on Tuesday, March 17, 2020.  Most of those who were fired were employed in the technical department, in positions such as engineers, maintenance personnel, and other …

Four Brooklyn Nets players have tested positive for the latest coronavirus, including Kevin Durant, taking the total to seven established NBA players. The Nets didn’t name the players on Tuesday, but Durant stated to The Athletic that he was one of them, saying: “Everybody be patient, take care of themselves and quarantine. The Nets confirmed one player had symptoms while …

Three mayors from Metro Manila City have told their respective city government personnel, including contract staff, that they will earn their full wages given a skeleton workforce operation during the Luzon-wide enhanced community quarantine compliance. Pasay City Mayor Emi Calixto-Rubiano promised in a statement on Wednesday that 3,000 city hall workers will earn full salaries and their 13 month pay. …

Local and international health experts have cautioned that if the virus is not controlled in the Philippines, the 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) could infect as many as 75,000 people in the next three months. Speaking at a state-run PTV’s “general” press conference on Wednesday, Health Under-Secretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said the number was calculated by Health Department and World Health …

The Department of Health (DOH) announced that three more individuals who tested positive for the 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) had died, taking the total number of deaths to 17 as of 12 noon Wednesday. Among the new deaths is a 58-year-old Filipino male from Lanao del Sur who has a history of traveling to Malaysia, health department said on Wednesday. …