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(CNN Philippines) Metro Manila — The country reached an all-time high in new COVID-19 cases recorded in a day after 17,231 more people were reported infected, the Department of Health announced on Friday.

The daily case count broke the previous record of 15,310 new infections logged on April 2.

The DOH case bulletin counted 1,807,800 cases in total, with 6.8% or 123,251 active or currently sick. At least 94.1% of active cases have mild symptoms, 3.2% have no symptoms, 1.2% have severe symptoms, 0.86% are in moderate condition and 0.7% are in critical condition.

The death toll also climbed to 31,198 after 317 more people lost their lives to the disease. The fatality count is equivalent to 1.73% of the total number of cases.

Meanwhile, 5,595 persons recovered, bringing the survivor tally to 1,653,351 or 91.5% of the COVID-19 total.

The DOH said it reclassified 222 survivors – 221 into fatalities and one into an active case – after validation, and deleted 434 duplicate cases, including 424 recoveries.

The total excludes data from two laboratories due to failure to submit their reports on time. These laboratories contributed an average of 0.03% of tested samples and 0.085 of positive individuals in the last 14 days, the DOH added.

The positivity rate or percentage of people who tested positive also reached a record high at 26.1% based on 64,934 tests reported on August 18. The rate is within critical level and well beyond US nonprofit Covid Act Now’s positivity rate benchmark of below 3%, which indicates there is adequate testing in an area.

The OCTA research team uses Covid Act Now as basis for projections. Meanwhile, the World Health Organization says the positivity rate should be below 5% to show the infection is under control.

The record high numbers come just a day before the National Capital Region eases to the more relaxed modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ).

The Inter-Agency Task Force placed Metro Manila and Laguna under MECQ from Saturday until the end of the month. Bataan will also be under MECQ from Aug. 23 to 31.

MECQ means indoor and outdoor dining, in-person religious gatherings, and personal care services will remain prohibited… Read More

(BusinessWorld) A TOTAL of 653,401 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) have come home since the start of the coronavirus pandemic last year, about half of whom still have a job abroad to go back to.

In a virtual briefing on Wednesday, Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) Director Hans Leo C. Cacdac said they are expecting another 150,000 to 180,000 OFWs to return to the country within the year.

Mr. Cacdac estimated that 50% of the returning OFWs were displaced or have decided to stop working abroad due to the pandemic, while the other half just came home to visit their families and will be leaving again.

Returning OFWs get government assistance on in terms of food, transport, and accommodation during their quarantine period, and cash aid worth P10,000 under the Bayanihan II Act, the second law passed for the country’s pandemic response.

The OWWA official said their agency has so far spent P5.2 billion for cash assistance to 520,093 OFWs.

He added that the Budget department has committed to the additional P7-billion funding requested by OWWA, but a final amount has yet to be determined.

Meanwhile, Warren M. Miclat, the Labor department’s financial management service director, said the department continues to accept applications for its COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) Adjustment Measures Program while waiting for the approval of Bayanihan III.

“We received P16.4 billion from Bayanihan II so the funds from Bayanihan III is hopefully higher,” Mr. Miclat said.

He added that the Department of Labor and Employment (DoLE) will not request for additional funds for cash assistance if ever the strict lockdown in Metro Manila is extended beyond Aug. 20.

DoLE has a pending request for an additional P2 billion for cash aid to workers displaced by the lockdown… Read More

(CNN Philippines) Metro Manila — Metro Manila mayors will not recommend an easing or extension of the COVID-19 quarantine status in the region, leaving the decision instead to the Inter-Agency Task Force, an official said Wednesday.

“The Metro Manila council will defer to the decision of the Inter-Agency Task Force on the next community quarantine status to be implemented in the National Capital Region,” Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MADD) chairman Bencher Abacus said in a media briefing, as he underscored the importance of balancing economic and health factors.

The country’s capital is currently under the strictest enhanced community quarantine (ECU) until August 20 amid the spike in coronavirus cases and the threat of the highly contagious Delta variant.

San Juan City Mayor Francis Zamora told CNN Philippines earlier in the day that local chief executives had a hard time deciding on their final recommendation due to these factors.

“It’s the first time we had an ECQ with the Delta variant. This has really further complicated the situation,” he said. “It’s very difficult at this point because if you allow ECQ to continue, the businesses will really suffer. If you open up at this point, more people will die. That’s really the situation now. It’s very hard to make a decision.”

Abalos vowed that whatever quarantine classification is imposed, LGUs will be ready to ramp up COVID-19 testing, isolation, and vaccination efforts.

“Ito po ang mako-commit ng mayors: One, hindi kami titigil sa pagba-bakuna. Number two, we will make sure na ang testing namin kumpleto. Number three, ‘yung ating isolation facilities, binibilang namin araw araw, ilan pa ba,” Abalos said.

[Translation: This is something the mayors can commit: One, we will not stop with the vaccination. Number two, we will make sure that our testing is complete. Number three, we’ll constantly check the status of our isolation facilities.]

President Rodrigo Duterte will still make the final decision as to what happens to Metro Manila after the ECQ status lapses on Friday.

Will there be new ‘ayuda’ if ECQ extended?
Abalos pointed out that one of the main concerns about a possible ECQ extension was if the national government can still afford to provide a new round of cash aid.

“Ang tanong, kung mag-ECQ pa for another two weeks, I’m not sure about the ayuda. Baka wala nang ibigay ang national (government),” the MMDA chief said.

[Translation: The question is, if we extend the ECQ for another two weeks, I’m not sure about the cash aid. Maybe the national government won’t be able to provide anymore.]

The Department of Budget and Management earlier told CNN Philippines that it is looking for more funds for additional cash aid in case Metro Manila and select provinces are placed under a longer lockdown.. Read More

(PepPh) Sa pamamagitan ng palitan ng text messages, napag-usapan namin ni John Estrada ang lumalaking isyu nila nina Derek Ramsay at Ellen Adarna.

Sinagot ni John ang isyung walkout umano ni Ellen sa sitcom nilang John en Ellen, na hindi raw totoo.

Pero pagdating sa kanila ni Derek, nahahalata ko noon pang may tampuhan talaga sila.

Ayaw lang talaga niyang magsalita.

Kinulit ko ulit si John nang nagsalita na si Derek sa YouTube channel ni Ogie Diaz, pero nakiusap siyang huwag na siyang hingan ng statement tungkol dito.

“Alam mo naman ako, Gorgs, hindi talaga ako nagsasalita kapag may isyu, di ba?

“May mga isyu naman ako nun, nagsasalita ba ako? Nagpapa-interview ba ako?” balik-sagot sa akin ni John.

Sandali kaming nagkausap ni John sa telepono nitong Miyerkules ng gabi, August 11.

Hindi niya itinangging nalungkot siya dahil umabot sa ganitong sitwasyon ang mahigit anim na taong friendship nila ni Derek.

Iniisip na lang daw niyang nangyayari ito sa ibang magkakaibigan. Kaya mas mabuting manahimik na lang daw siya.

“Basta para sa akin, kaibigan pa rin ang turing ko sa kanya,” makahulugang pahayag ni John.

Nakita raw niya kung gaano kamahal ni Derek si Ellen. Inuunawa na lang daw niya ang lahat na nangyayari.

“I wish them well. Gusto ko naman, Gorgs, masaya lang sila. Everybody happy!

“Okay na yun. Ayoko na magsalita, ha?” natatawang pahayag ni John at pinapatigil na niya ako sa pagtatanong.

Ayaw na rin akong sagutin ni John tungkol sa isyung balak ni Ellen na i-complain ang buong production ng John en Ellen sa IATF dahil sa nilabag diumano na safety protocols.

Haharapin daw nila ito sakaling may dumating na ganung reklamo.

“Basta, ayoko nang lumaki pa ito. I’d rather not say a word… Lest it be blown to unmanageable proportions.

“Gusto ko lang magpasalamat sa lahat na nagpadala sa akin ng messages, saka yung iba pang mga nagbigay ng magandang comments sa akin,” dagdag na pahayag ni John… Read More

(The Manila Times) NEW TEAM-UP ON GMA Jennylyn Mercado confirms on Instagram that she will be working on a series with Xian Lim. INSTAGRAM PHOTOS/MERCADOJENNY
XIAN Lim and Jennylyn Mercado confirmed in their respective social media accounts that they will work together, for the first time, on a teleserye. This will also be Lim’s first major project with GMA after his transfer from ABS-CBN.

In June, Mercado hinted on her Facebook page that she might have a project with Lim, posting individual photos of them with the caption, “What do you think? #JenXi”. Then on Sunday, Mercado took to Facebook again to share an edited photo of the two and wrote, “Abangan. #LoveDieRepeat”.

On Monday evening, Mercado posted on Instagram that she attended a virtual story conference for a project titled “Love. Die. Repeat.” Mercado also posted a screenshot of their Zoom call, which included Lim.

Not long after Mercado’s post, Lim also uploaded the Zoom photo on Instagram Stories, along with the script of the pilot episode.

Other attendees of the story conference were their co-stars Gardo Versoza, Mike Tan, Kim Domingo, Samantha Lopez, Valerie Concepcion, Victor Anastacio, and Lui Manansala. GMA Entertainment Group Program Manager Ayalexi Dedicatoria, executive producer Joy Lumboy-Pili, and other members of the project were also present.

“Ulan” and “On Vodka, Beers, and Regrets” director Irene Emma Villamor was also present in the Zoom call. Later on, she was confirmed to be the series director. Villamor and Mercado previously worked together on the series “Love You Two,” in which the actress was paired with Gabby Concepcion.

Meanwhile, this is Lim’s first major project for the network, having spent much of his career in ABS-CBN. Lim is currently under Viva Artists Agency. When he was starting out, Lim appeared in two episodes of the network’s anthology series “Maynila.” Recently, Lim also appeared on one of GMA’s specials in partnership with an e-commerce platform… Read More

(CNN Philippines) Metro Manila — President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday asked for more COVID-19 vaccines from the United States, adding that the government is ready to pay for fresh supply.

“I am just asking America to give us more, kung mayroon lang sila (only if they have)… If there is an excess of supply, pakitulong naman dito sa bayan ko (please help my country),” he said during his late-night address on Monday.

“We have the money,” the President added. “We buy, we do not ask. We have saved money for this event.”

So far, the Philippines has received over 42 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines, including more than three million doses of the Moderna vaccine donated by the U.S. through the COVAX facility.

China has also donated coronavirus doses to the country, including one million shots of Sinovac vaccine. The Asian superpower has committed to donate more to the Philippines, which it has done “with no strings attached,” according to Duterte.

Meanwhile, the chief executive reiterated his appeal to all Filipinos to get vaccinated to protect themselves from the virus as the country records more cases of the more transmissible variants.

“Itong virus na ito (This virus) will just circulate in the air for years, so itong (this) mask, limited social contacts natin nandiyan na iyan (will be always there),” Duterte said.

“The virus is here to stay and it will change your life at least forever until mawala ito (it disappears),” he also said. “And it will continue to claim lives.”

The Department of Health has recorded more cases of the dreaded Delta variant and the country’s first case of the Lambda variant.

READ: DOH: Pregnant woman from Western Visayas first Lambda variant case

Amid new fears on the efficacy of the COVID-19 vaccines against these variants, infectious disease expert Dr. Edsel Salvaña presented data on the matter, noting that all vaccines remain to be highly effective against contracting severe case of COVID-19 regardless of the variant.

However, efficacy decreases in preventing clinical disease — specifically when one gets infected by the Delta variant, Salvaña explained.

Meanwhile, there is only a slight decrease on the vaccine’s efficacy against the Lambda variant based on preliminary data, he added.

Currently, the government has fully vaccinated over 12.5 million Filipinos, still far from the target of immunizing at least 70 million individuals to achieve herd immunity… Read More

(BusinessWorld) PHILIPPINE health authorities on Sunday said they have detected the first case of the Lambda coronavirus variant that is more contagious and resistant to vaccines.

The patient was a 35-year-old woman who did not show symptoms and who had since recovered, the Department of Health (DoH) said in a statement.

The agency was tracing people who had close contact with the patient, who became well after being isolated for 10 days, it said.

“This variant of interest has the potential to affect the transmissibility of SARS-CoV-2 and is currently being monitored for its possible clinical significance,” DoH said.

Lambda is a variant of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. It was first detected in Peru in December. It is said to be more contagious than the original strain from Wuhan China. It is also more resistant to vaccines, according to studies.

DoH also reported 182 more infections from the Delta coronavirus variant from India, 41 from the Alpha variant from the UK, 66 from the Beta variant first detected in South Africa, and 40 from the local P.3 variant.

The Philippines now had 807 Delta, 2,232 Alpha, 2,483 Beta and 347 P.3 variant cases, it said.

DAILY TALLY
The Health department reported 14,749 coronavirus infections on Sunday, the second-highest tally since the pandemic started last year, bringing the total to 1.74 million… Read More

(GMA News) More children are now getting hospitalized with COVID-19 at the San Lazaro Hospital, according to a report on “24 Oras Weekend” on Sunday.

Dr. Rontgene Solante, chairman of the Adult Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine unit of the San Lazaro Hospital, said this may be caused by the highly transmissible Delta variant.

“Compared natin last year or last March, kaunti lang talaga ang mga bata. Ngayon, nadadagdagan na. Most of the symptoms are very mild lang so they have cough, fever, except for one, which was the youngest I think 3 months old which was more or less severe form of COVID,” Solante said.

(Last year or last March, very few kids were taken to hospital. But now, there are a lot more. Most of the symptoms are very mild, so they have a cough, fever. Except for one case, which was the youngest I think. A three-month-old who more or less has a severe form of COVID.)

“The transmissibility has now extended not only for adults but also to younger age groups. And most of the sources of these younger age group are also coming from their parents or from their caretakers,” he added.

Earlier, the Department of Health said an increase in COVID-19 infections in the country has been recorded in all age groups and not just among children.

The DOH issued the statement amid concerns over the reported increase in the number of children contracting COVID-19.

Dr. Jocelyn Eusebio, chief of the Philippine Pediatric Society, said children have strong resistance against COVID-19 but they could still be more vulnerable against the more transmissible Delta variant… Read More