Philippines

President Rodrigo Duterte is expected to make new pronouncements as he meets anew in the country on Monday afternoon with the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) on emerging infectious diseases, military and police officials following a continuous increase in cases of coronavirus disease (COVID-19). In a bid to contain the virus, Duterte approved the imposition of Community quarantine on Metro Manila. …

It’s like across between Holy Week and a transport attack said a coffee shop employee at BF Homes Parañaque, describing the unusual silence that came down on the city as a police force, backed by the military and the coast guard, closed Sunday’s access to Metro Manila, enforcing a month-long quarantine that officials hope would curb the the cases of …

Owing to the lack of face masks and other personal protective equipment (PPE) in hospitals, front-line health workers are themselves constantly at risk of contracting the new coronavirus. A doctor who talked to the inquirer on condition of anonymity, Jose R. Reyes Memorial Medical Center said staff members had been purchasing their own face masks after supplies ran out. The …

Since human coronaviruses will potentially remain infectious for up to nine days even on inanimate surfaces, an environmental health group on Monday called on consumers of disposable face masks to properly dispose of them. As the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continues to threaten the world, Jove Benosa, who serves as EcoWaste Coalition’s Zero Waste Campaigner, enumerated the potential implications of inadequate …

Notwithstanding predictions of slower domestic growth in 2020 as the COVID-19 pandemic is taking its toll on the global economy, there is no stopping this year’s Philippines from rising to upper middle-income country status, the country’s lead economist said. Pernia, who heads the National Economic and Development Authority (Neda) state planning agency, said an realistic 3-4 percent increase in gross …

On Saturday the Department of Health (DOH) announced two more deaths from the 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19), raising the death count to eight. The DOH said in its statement the two additional COVID-19 deaths were on top of the one that was confirmed earlier in the day. As of this writing, no other specifics are yet available on the two …

Metro Manila city magistrates released a resolution calling for a temporary closure of shopping malls, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) said Saturday. MMDA General Manager Jojo Garcia said at a press conference that the Metro Manila Council released a resolution asking all local governments in the National Capital Region (NCR) to issue temporary shutdown orders for malls and other …

As part of community quarantine steps to curb the spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19), the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority will enforce a curfew within the National Capital Area. MMDA General Manager Jojo Garcia announced at a press conference on Saturday that all Metro Manila mayors agreed to issue a resolution to impose a curfew from 8 p.m. At 5 a.m., …

Our healthcare workers feel the love! The St. Luke’s Medical Center’s ER staff in Bonifacio Global City expressed their gratitude for receiving food from the Rue Bourbon Restaurant. Their heartfelt thanks go to restaurant Rue Bourbon for sending food to their ER employees. This small act of kindness gives their health-care staff a great deal. This gesture reflects how they …

The government has recommended employers release the 13th month salary of employees who would be affected by Metro Manila’s one-month community quarantine. Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez, likewise, said it will compensate for the one month they won’t be able to return to work paying out workers ‘ 13th month salary. In addition to granting workers their 13th month salary, Año …