METRO MANILA – A new mutated strain of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes the Covid-19 disease has been detected and belived to be more infectious than the original variant, says Philippine Genome Center (PGC). According to the research center, the G614 strain, along with D614 genotype was reportedly detected on several sample positive cases in Quezon City. Philippine Genome Center …

MANILA – The World Bank has committed another $1.9 billion in projects in the Philippines to help and support projects that will help the economy bounce back from the impact of Covid-19 pandemic. According to the Department of Finance (DOF), the $1.9 billion-worth of “redesigned” World Bank-funded projects are expected to be approved before the year end to help the …

The office of the Directorate General of Immigration at Jalan HR Rasuna Said, Kuningan, South Jakarta is closed for 10 days from August 12 until August 21, 2020. The closure was carried out as a sterilization action following five immigration officers at the office who tested positive for Covid-19. Even though the office is closed, onshore visa services for foreign …

Apart from working with other countries in developing the coronavirus vaccine (Covid-19), Indonesia is also developing vaccines independently. The domestically made vaccine is called Merah Putih Vaccine. PT Bio Farma’s Project Integration Management Research and Development Neni Nurainy said that the Merah Putih vaccine would be a long-term strategy. “Indonesia with 270 million people must be ready with its own …

India has three Covid-19 vaccines under trial and will ensure that every person receives a vaccine, said Prime Minister Narendra Modi paying homage to those battling the Indian coronavirus pandemic. Mr Modi has launched a National Digital Health Initiative to improve India’s healthcare system, which is expected to include the digitization of health records as well as a national registry …

Soon Indonesia will celebrate its 75th anniversary of independence on August 17, 2020. Usually, Indonesians celebrate that day with a series of vibrant events. However, the celebration this time will be different from usual because it takes place in the middle of the coronavirus pandemic (Covid-19). As is known, DKI Jakarta has decided to stop all social activities that cause …

METRO MANILA – Metro Manila shifting to a more relaxed lockdown measure or modified general community quarantine (MGCQ) is only a “remote possibility”, Malacañang said Thursday. According to Presidential spokesman Harry Roque, even if critical care capacity for COVID-19 patients improves in the following days, its highly unlike that Metro Manila will be upgrading to a more relaxed lockdown measure. …

The Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency or BMKG closed its head office in the Kemayoran area, Central Jakarta, for a week from August 13 until August 20, 2020. This decision was taken because dozens of Covid-19 reactive employees were found after undergoing a rapid test. “To break the chain of the spread of Covid-19, the steps taken are to temporarily …

Minister of SOEs and Chief Executive of the Committee for Handling Covid-19 and National Economic Recovery (PEN) Erick Thohir said a number of ministries were still discussing the implementation of the SIM card credit assistance program. He said the subsidy program was still being discussed by the Ministry of Education and Culture, the Ministry of Communication and Information, and the …

KUALA LUMPUR – According to Perlis Mufti Datuk Mohd Asri Zainul Abidin, violating the regulation being implemented for Targeted Enhanced Movement Control Order (TEMCO), is a major sin. He claimed that such violation is not only wrong in law but also a big sin as it neglects the efforts of curbing the spread of the virus and at the same …