More news about how the COVID-19 pandemic in the Philippines is being handled by the public and the government.
Bloomberg has released a list of countries and ranked them on how they have handled the COVID-19 pandemic. The Philippines is near the bottom of the list.
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| https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/news/nation/765634/philippines-46th-out-of-53-counties-in-covid-resilience-bloomberg/story/ |
The Philippines scored 46th out of 53 countries when it came to handling the COVID-19 crisis with the least amount of economic and social disruption, a Bloomberg study showed.
In its "COVID resilience ranking," the US news site measured the 53 largest economies on how they did along 10 key metrics, including increase in cases, mortality rate, healthcare system capacity, lockdown impact, community mobility, GDP growth forecast, and agreements on vaccine supply.
Each component gets a score from 0 to 100, with 100 being the best.
The Philippines' score of 48.9 places it below 45 countries and above only seven: Iran, Colombia, the Czech Republic, Belgium, Peru, Argentina and Mexico.
It also fared the worst among the Southeast Asian nations on the list, behind Vietnam (10), Singapore (11), Thailand (15), Indonesia (19), and Malaysia (29).
The Philippines scored especially poorly when it came to community mobility—the "movement of people to offices and retail spaces compared to a pre-pandemic baseline in the past month"—with a -39.4% score. Only two countries had a lower score.
Bloomberg said it used datasets and indexes from organizations around the world to create its list. It stressed that the ranking is not a "final verdict"—that countries' rankings may go up or down as they shift strategies.
The government has repudiated this analysis of their efforts to fight COVID-19.
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| https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1123058 |
The Philippines is doing “very well” in terms of controlling the spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) with a low mortality rate, Malacañang said Thursday.
Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque made this remark after a Bloomberg study showed that the Philippines ranked 46th out of 53 countries when it came to handling the Covid-19 health crisis.
“Pinaninindigan po natin (We maintain) that we have managed Covid-19 very well in this country,” he said in a Palace press briefing.
Roque said he has yet to see the study himself but disagreed that the Philippines was among the countries with the worst ranking.
“Hindi ko pa po nakikita yung pag-aaral na ‘yan. Hayaan niyo po titingnan ko yung pag-aaral na ‘yan pero tingin ko parang hindi poaccurate ‘yan sa actual na nangyari (I haven’t seen the study yet. Allow me to check it, but I think it’s not accurate to the actual situation on the ground),” he said.
Even if the Philippines entered the list of 20 countries with the most number of Covid-19 cases, Roque said it fared well than other countries that made the top of the list.
He also noted that the country remains to have a low mortality rate at 1.75 percent,
“Nakikita niyo naman po bagamat number 22 na tayo sa buong mundo, hindi naman po tayo nasa absolute top in terms of numbers. Maliit po ang ating mortality rate at maliit din po yung nagkakasakit ng malala at kritikal (You see, even if we are number 22 in the world, we’re not on the absolute top in terms of numbers. We have a low mortality rate and only a few severe and critical cases),” he added.
A 1.75% mortality rate? That's not because of government efforts. That is because the virus has a more than 90% survival rate. It's a matter of fact that the Philippines continues to have the longest lockdown in the world along with rotating lockdowns as the virus waxes and wanes. The economy has also been hit hard with thousands of jobs lost because of the stringent lockdowns.
Education in the Philippines has really taken a hit since the pandemic began. Now the UP has adopted a no-fail policy.
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| https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2020/11/26/2059601/adopt-no-fail-policy-covid-19-typhoons-hamper-learning |
The University of the Philippines System will be not be issuing failing marks this semester, the student representative to its policy-making Board of Regents said Thursday.
"UP to implement a no fail policy this semester where a grade of '4' [conditional] or '5' [fail] shall not be given," the Office of the Student Regent announced on Twitter, adding that the Office of the Vice President for Academic Affairs would release guidelines soon.
The scheme was based on a proposal to postpone the grades of those who could not submit class requirements—for example, for lack of access to the internet or even a computer—"since there is no sufficient basis for assessing students, they will be given a 'deferred grade.'"
"None of the students will fail the course provided they meet the requirements," an advisory panel formed by the office of the university president said in its policy proposal.
Everybody passes even if they should fail.
The vaccine is coming and along with it propaganda to convince the public of its effectivity.
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| https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1123040 |
“There must be information drives. The people must be made aware of the usefulness of getting themselves immunized, including as part of the information is the need to understand that it is not 100 percent protection against SARS-COV 2 (severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus 2 or the strain of the virus causing Covid-19),” Loreche told the Philippine News Agency (PNA) in a virtual interview.
Loreche said the people must also be made aware that those who will get the vaccine “might have mild side effects like fever and body pains or malaise”.
She said the program will also succeed if the government would allow a panel of experts to check on the vaccines.
She added that transparency in reporting especially on the choices of the vaccines to be used will give confidence to the people that it is safe to be immunized against Covid-19.
The government needs to “train more people who will be doing the actual vaccination itself” and the logistics must be planned and well-coordinated to include the timing of the giving of the vaccines to the people.
If the vaccine is not 100% effective protection against COVID-19 then what is the point of getting it?
The DOH is expecting an uptick in COVID-19 cases this Christmas season which is why the PNP have got their eyes set on you.
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| https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1123174 |
"We really are expecting that there is a rise in public convergence especially during the Misa de Gallo (or Simbang Gabi). But the IATF (Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases) guidelines must be complied with. There is a need for us to communicate time and again with our people for them to avoid crowded areas (like) churches, malls, and some tiangges (mini markets)," Usana said in a Laging Handa press briefing.
He added that police officers would have to be more visible in requiring people to observe minimum health protocols.
Usana said the management of the churches should also ensure that health standards are being followed during their activities this Christmas season.
Imagine having cops patrolling churches to make sure they comply with orders. Does that sound like tyranny or freedom to you?
The Philippines has already given the green light to purchase AstraZeneca's vaccine.
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| https://globalnation.inquirer.net/192399/ph-buying-astrazeneca-shots-private-sector-picking-up-tab |
The Philippine government will sign on Friday an agreement with the private sector and British-Swedish pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca for the purchase of 2 million doses of its COVID-19 vaccine.
National Task Force Against COVID-19 chief Carlito Galvez Jr. announced the deal on Thursday and said the private sector would shoulder the cost of the vaccines.
“This coming Friday, we will sign the tripartite agreement where we will buy 2 million doses of the vaccine from the United Kingdom’s AstraZeneca. Joining us will be the private sector who donated these,” Galvez said in a press briefing.
The vaccine is expected to become available either in May, June or July next year, so the immunization drive is likely to start late in the second quarter of 2021, he said.
But it seems there might be a problem with this vaccine.
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| https://www.nytimes.com/2020/11/25/business/coronavirus-vaccine-astrazeneca-oxford.html |
But since unveiling the preliminary results, AstraZeneca has acknowledged a key mistake in the vaccine dosage received by some study participants, adding to questions about whether the vaccine’s apparently spectacular efficacy will hold up under additional testing.
Scientists and industry experts said the error and a series of other irregularities and omissions in the way AstraZeneca initially disclosed the data have eroded their confidence in the reliability of the results.
Officials in the United States have noted that the results were not clear. It was the head of the flagship federal vaccine initiative — not the company — who first disclosed that the vaccine’s most promising results did not reflect data from older people.
The upshot, the experts said, is that the odds of regulators in the United States and elsewhere quickly authorizing the emergency use of the AstraZeneca vaccine are declining, an unexpected setback in the global campaign to corral the devastating pandemic.
“I think that they have really damaged confidence in their whole development program,” said Geoffrey Porges, an analyst for the investment bank SVB Leerink.
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| https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1123315 |
“All these crises brought about by this pandemic, by these typhoons, they all sharpen the need for a federal government,” he said in a webinar organized by the Pimentel Institute for Leadership and Governance on Saturday.
He pointed out that despite the signing of Republic Act 11469 or the Bayanihan to Heal As One Act (Bayanihan 1), many low-income families failed to receive subsidies under the Social Amelioration Program (SAP) on time.
“Nakita natin na kahit na anong gawing response ng national government, masisipag naman yung mga opisyales natin, pero hindi natin magawa. ‘Yun lang distribution ng tulong doon sa mahihirap under yung Bayanihan law hindi nagawa 'yun (We saw that no amount of response carried out by the national government, even if our officials are hardworking, they can’t do it. Just the distribution of aid for the poor under the Bayanihan Law, they can’t accomplish),” he said.
Puno, however, clarified there was no specific national or local official to blame in delays in the distribution of cash assistance.
“We're not blaming a specific person but it's the unitary government. And then you know, they suffer from a lot of red tapes. Ang daming regulasyon diyan. Pag nag-violate ka ng regulasyon dadalhin ka sa Ombudsman kaya kawawa rin sila (There are too many regulations. If you violate regulations, they’ll take you to the Ombudsman),” he added.
Puno said changing the form of government from the current unitary to a “bayanihan”-type federal will break the over-concentration of power in the national government.
Harry Roque visited Cebu province to promote tourism. A large crowd turned out to hear him speak and social distancing protocols were ignored.
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| https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1365990/no-distancing-as-harry-visits-island-to-promote-tourism |
The Cebu provincial government has begun a tourism program called “Suroy-suroy” (strolling around) to help revive the local economy amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
In his remarks, Roque acknowledged that physical distancing was not observed during the event.
But he said this rule need not be followed if people wore masks and were assembled in an open-air venue.
“Anong isusuot? Masks. Anong dapat gawin? Hugas. At pangatlo, ang hindi natin nasusunod ngayon, iwas, di ba?” Roque reminded the crowd.
(What should we wear? Masks. What should we do? Wash hands. And third, what we’re not observing right now, avoid [crowded places], right?)
He added: “Pero huwag n’yo lang tatanggalin ang mga masks niyo. OK na yan dahil open air naman tayo.” (Just don’t remove your masks. That’s OK because we’re in an open-air venue.)
Roque said, “Cebuanos are showing that COVID-19 is not a hindrance in reviving livelihood and tourism.”
Mayor Salvador dela Fuente of Madridejos said he had advised the public to observe physical distancing, but authorities lost control of the crowd because of their “eagerness and enthusiasm.”
“Madridejos is located on an island. People here wanted to personally see the secretary (Roque) and the governor so they were already out of control,” he said.
In a statement on Saturday night, Roque said “I was totally taken aback by the huge crowd that came when I went to Cebu yesterday, Nov. 27, to grace the official opening of Bantayan Island Airport.”
He added that “as a precautionary measure, I observed physical distancing and reminded those who were present to observe the minimum health standards. Also, I did not shake hands and I wore a face mask.”
He also said “local officials … did not expect the huge turnout of people as well. Be that as it may, they advised the public to wear face masks and there was general compliance, as seen in the pictures that came out.”
The rules don't apply when government officials are involved.
Parents are being warned to keep their children inside this holiday seas as they may become super spreaders.
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| https://mb.com.ph/2020/11/30/ph-not-out-of-the-woods-yet-children-should-not-be-allowed-outside-as-they-can-be-super-spreaders-expert/ |
“I’m worried about the kids being allowed to go out and they say that the holiday season is about kids and children but I think if they will be allowed to roam around and visit malls, they will be the ones that will carry the virus at home,” Dr. Tony Leachon told ANC in an interview Monday.
“They will be the super spreaders and that will affect their parents and grandparents as well so this is dangerous,” he added.
Leachon said the current 15-65 age bracket for stay-at-home restrictions should be maintained during the holiday season.
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| https://adc.bmj.com/content/105/7/618 |
At the current time, children do not appear to be super spreaders
That is only one of many studies which contradicts the endless fear mongering from a government that claims it is listening to science as it responds to the pandemic. Sadly the fear mongering will continue.
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| https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1366583/ano-reminds-public-christmas-family-reunions-are-considered-mass-gathering |
In a televised briefing, Año reminded the public that mass gatherings are prohibited as the country continues to grapple with the coronavirus pandemic.
(Just celebrate Christmas with the immediate family and minimum health standard should be implemented.)
In a text message to INQUIRER.net, Año explained why family reunions are considered mass gathering.
“Yes, that’s right. Family reunions are mass gatherings of different families within a clan. Immediate family gathering is allowed,” Año told INQUIRER.net in a text message when asked if such events are also covered by the ban on mass gatherings.
“A family reunion is an occasion of a large gathering when many members of extended families congregate to eat, socialize, and commemorate,” he added.
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