More news about how the COVID-19 pandemic in the Philippines is being handled by the public and the government.
There is a lot of confusion about what is happening. The PNP says Christmas parties are illegal and party-goers will be arrested but then they say they will not be monitoring social media and bursting into homes.
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| https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2020/12/17/2064469/no-social-media-monitoring-barging-homes-christmas-pnp-chief |
Police personnel have been instructed to taper down on social media monitoring, arresting quarantine violators and home arrests for the Christmas season, the chief of the national police disclosed Thursday.
Speaking in an interview aired over CNN Philippines' "The Source," Police Gen. Debold Sinas, chief of the Philippine National Police, clarified the police force's marching orders for the holiday, saying that only organizers of gatherings would be arrested, while families in their homes will be left alone.
The directive signals a drastic departure from the national police's heavy-handed enforcement of protocols for much of the past nine months of community quarantine. The Joint Task Force COVID Shield, which includes the national police and military and handles on-ground enforcement of quarantine rules, earlier announced it would also be monitoring social media for violations until it was slammed by no less than the National Privacy Commission.
"We don't have the capability to monitor social media right now. What we're doing now is when someone texts us that a case went viral, that's what we're looking for and will take action against...We don't immediately go when someone complains. We verify first. But if you guys are only celebrating the Christmas and New Year solemnly, we won't barge in, we won't trespass. The police know everybody's rights," Sinas said in mixed Filipino and English.
Elsewhere Sinas is reported to have said:
(Our police officers cannot just barge into houses. That is trespassing. But if you play loud music and it disturbs the neighborhood, someone complains about it or it violates a specific city or municipal ordinance, that is another matter),” Sinas said.
Sinas added that the police officers verify a complaint before responding to it.
It seems as if you can have a Christmas party as long as you don't have loud music or post about it online. Of course nosy neighbors could post about it and then you might face trouble. But why issue a statement that party-goers will be arrested and then backtrack? It only serves to create a culture of fear.
The cops have decided to stop arresting safety protocol violators and instead hand out face masks and shields to the erring.
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| https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2020/12/17/2064372/cops-hand-out-masks-shields-no-more-arrests |
Police officers will hand out face masks and face shields instead of immediately arresting violators of health and safety protocols, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said yesterday.
PNP spokesman Brig. Gen. Ildebrandi Usana said the officers would bring extra masks and shields, which they would distribute to individuals caught not wearing the protective gear in public places.
People are required to wear face masks and face shields when in public places, based on the latest guidelines from the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF).
Asked where they would find extra resources for the initiative, Usana said they would use the personal protective equipment donated by non-governmental organizations.
That is certainly more productive that arresting people. The mandate to wear face shields has met with some criticism but "experts" have backed the idea.
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| https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/12/17/20/experts-back-mandatory-wearing-of-face-shields-amid-criticism |
Experts on Thursday said wearing of face shields is important to prevent new COVID-19 infections, after some questioned the need to require it in public spaces.
In a message, OCTA research's Guido David said face shields are needed to slow down infections.
"I would say face shields are effective because its use has reduced the reproduction number and number of cases since September, even as NCR transitioned to GCQ," David told reporters.
"Face shields and face masks reduce transmission rate. But crowding, mass gathering, and delayed isolation and quarantine are alternative explanations for the surge," he explained.
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| https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/about-face-coverings.html |
But in the Philippines face shields are now a fact of life.
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| https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1372603/duque-failed-to-submit-documents-needed-for-pfizer-vaccine-deal-lacson |
The Philippines would have secured the delivery of 10 million doses of Pfizer COVID-19 vaccines as early as January next year had Health Secretary Francisco Duque III worked on the documentary requirements needed for the deal.
This was according to Senator Panfilo Lacson, who was able to talk to Philippine Ambassador to the US Jose Romualdez about the official who “dropped the ball” on the Pfizer vaccine deal.
According to Lacson, the negotiation between U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. as arranged by Romualdez started in July this year, which would have allowed the country to acquire the Pfizer vaccines as early as January 2021.
“They could have secured the delivery of 10 million Pfizer vaccines as early as January next year, way ahead of Singapore but for the indifference of Sec. Duque who failed to work on the necessary documentary requirement namely, the Confidentiality Disclosure Agreement (CDA) as he should have done,” Lacson said in a message to reporters.
“The country representative of Pfizer was even following up on the submission of such documentary requirements,” he added, noting that Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III has assured both Locsin and Romualdez that funds would be “made available” for the vaccines.
“As we now know, Singapore has the vaccines and we don’t,” the senator further said.
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| https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1125054 |
Face-to-face caroling is prohibited during the Christmas holidays while exchanging of gifts is also discouraged during gatherings as part of the city government’s continuing response to curb the spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19).
These are part of the guidelines on the conduct of Christmas and New Year gatherings and other merry-making activities provided in Executive Order 81 issued by Mayor Evelio Leonardia on Wednesday night.
“Virtual get-togethers and Christmas and New Year parties or gatherings held within the premises of one’s home are highly encouraged,” it said.
During the gathering, it is encouraged that there should be one person assigned to serve the food, and multiple people touching the serving spoon and plates should be avoided.
“It is best to keep the number of people preparing the food to the minimum. Face masks and face shields should be worn when preparing, serving, and getting food,” it added.
EO 81 also stated that “(i)f possible, refrain from gift exchanges. However, if extremely necessary, place disinfectants and rubbing alcohol nearby and practice proper hand hygiene before and after opening presents.”
For persons or establishments intending to conduct gift-giving, they must ensure that standard health protocols such as wearing of face masks and face shields and strict physical distancing are strictly observed.
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| https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1125066 |
The municipality of Sadanga in Mountain Province has issued a moratorium on wedding celebrations to keep the town free from coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19), especially during the holiday season.
“Effective today until further notice, the conduct of wedding celebrations in the community which inevitably draw huge crowds is hereby strongly discouraged,” Mayor Gabino Ganggangan said in an advisory dated Dec. 16.
He said the order was agreed upon by the municipal task force members in compliance with the resolution of the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) which prohibits mass gathering.
Cordillera people see wedding celebrations as a feast that lasts for days with several animals butchered coupled with dancing and drinking of native wine.
Ganggangan said the recent wedding celebrations that happened in the barangays within the municipality led to an influx of relatives and visitors from the town and outside the province.
He said others came from “red areas” or areas that have a high risk of Covid-19 infection like Benguet, Baguio City, Tabuk City, Tinglayan in Kalinga, and Metro Manila who attended the wedding.
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| https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/news/nation/768292/house-oks-proposed-new-filipino-way-of-gesture-on-2nd-reading/story/ |
The House of Representatives on Wednesday approved on second reading the measure seeking to institutionalize a new Filipino gesture of respect, goodwill, and praise to help reduce physical contact amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
In a vote of yes and no, the chamber approved House Bill 8149, or the proposed "Bating Pilipino Para Sa Kalusugan Act," principally authored by Marikina City Representative Bayani Fernando.
In this new way of gesture, the palm of the right hand would be laid over the center of the chest while simultaneously lowering the head, with eyes either closed or cast down.
The measure covers Filipino citizens and all other persons who are in the Philippines.
All government agencies and instrumentalities are mandated under the measure to allocate their respective resources for information dissemination and to encourage the practice of the new gesture.
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| https://cebudailynews.inquirer.net/355906/police-to-deploy-kaohsiung-buses-in-churches |
Cebu City officials noted a decrease and the presence of a ‘more manageable’ crowd gathering outside churches this Sunday, the fifth day of Misa de Gallo (dawn Masses).
But the presence of minors who are 15-years-old and below and seniors aged 65-years-old and above, who tag along with churchgoers, remain a concern.
This prompted authorities to decide on the need to deploy Kaohsiung buses near churches for use as transportation of minors and elderlies who will not be allowed to attend the dawn Masses and will have to be sent back home.
“We will be fielding Kaohsiung busses starting tomorrow (December 21) to transport these minors back to their barangays, for families bringing minors, toddlers or babies (since they are not) allowed to enter the church premises,” said Councilor Joel Garganera, heads of the city’s emergency operations center (EOC).
Police Lieutenant Colonel Wilbert Parilla, deputy director for operations of Cebu City Police Office (CCPO), shared the same observation.
Parilla said they are initially eyeing to place the buses within the vicinity of the Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral and the St. Nicolas de Tolentino Parish Church.
“We have observed that there are quite a number of minors below 15-years-old who do not even attend daw Masses but are instead playing near these churches. They’re not supposed to be outside their houses,” said Parilla in Cebuano.
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| https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/news/nation/768725/locsin-hits-critics-no-gov-t-would-let-its-people-take-a-defective-vaccine/story/ |
Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. has slammed critics questioning the efficacy of available COVID-19 vaccines, saying no government will allow a "defective" dose developed in their own country to be injected on its people.
In a virtual interview with former diplomatic reporter Malou Talosig-Bartolome on Saturday, Locsin argued that countries thrive not solely on military power but, more importantly on credibility, and distributing a faulty vaccine will make them lose their people's trust for centuries.
"No aspiring great power will ever, ever distribute a vaccine that they do not believe sincerely is the best. Because if they did that and it failed out there, the reputation will be destroyed for the next two, three centuries," he said.
"The proof of that is that almost every vaccine developed by the great power is immediately deployed on their armed forces. Do you think that anybody is so stupid as to inject their own armed forces with a defective vaccine? We can expect a coup d'etat," he added.
This is the reason, Locsin said, that critics should not doubt the efficacy of any vaccine, regardless of what country it came from.
"You hear people who are disgruntled with the government, 'That vaccine is inferior!' Come on, grow up. These vaccines are as good as they can get," he said.
"You take your risk. Pfizer for a while, there was a little side effect here but it's gone. It's really criminally irresponsible to put down any of the vaccines because that's really unbelievable," he added.
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| https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2020/12/21/2065314/thai-news-website-puts-roques-photo-health-protocols |
A Thai news website included an animated photo of presidential spokesman Harry Roque in its reminder about observing health protocols against COVID-19.
In a tweet posted yesterday, the Thai Enquirer reminded its readers to wash their hands constantly, always wear masks, observe social distancing, listen to government announcements and avoid taking unnecessary risks.
Below the message was an animated gif showing Roque raising his fists, a scene lifted from one of his Palace press briefings.
He was standing behind a podium with signs that read “wear mask,” “wash hands” and “keep distance.”
“We have no idea who this person is,” the Thai Enquirer said in a separate tweet.
“We used the gif because he’s round and Asian!!”
Roque said it was “encouraging” that the foreign media, specifically Thai Enquirer, has taken notice of the Philippine government’s minimum public health standards advocacy campaign.
“Indeed, COVID-19 knows no borders, as the Thai news website succinctly puts it, ‘We’re all in this together,’” the Palace spokesman said in a statement.
“The fact that the Philippine government’s advocacy campaign has caught international attention underscores how effective our message is – which we articulate in every press briefing and which we prominently display on the podium – in conveying that we must adhere to such health standards aimed at saving lives and protecting the communities,” he added.
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| https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2020/12/22/2065538/vaccination-passport-eyed-help-identify-inoculated |
A party-list congressman has filed a bill in the House of Representatives to help put an efficient system for persons inoculated with the coronavirus vaccine and pave the way for the so-called “vaccination passport.”
Rep. Ronnie Ong of party-list Ang Probinsiyano filed House Bill 8280 (Vaccination Passport Act) in the hope of providing a faster and more systematic way of complying with the national government’s health protocols through mass immunization.
“Although the COVID-19 inoculation is still a few months away from entering our borders, it is but proper to take further preparations and necessary steps for its unhampered implementation and maximization,” he said.
According to him, this passport can also be used as an identification system that will allow people unrestricted access to public facilities and participate in mass gatherings without the need of using the mandatory face masks and face shields.
“It is our hope that this bill will be considered and approved the soonest possible time before the possible roll out of the vaccine in June 2021 to restore people’s trust and confidence to travel, with the end view of reviving and bolstering our economy,” Ong pointed out.
He noted that some business establishments may also decide to require people to show this passport until after the Department of Health declares that the threat of the COVID-19 virus has been totally eradicated.
The bill mandates the Inter-Agency Task Force – particularly the Departments of Health, Tourism, Foreign Affairs, Trade and Industry, and Transportation – to “coordinate and provide for a single internationally-recognized vaccine passport to serve as proof that a person has been vaccinated against COVID-19.”
In effect, Ong said the “vaccination passport” is basically a badge that will prove that one is safe to mingle with other people and engage in activities without the need to use face masks and face shields and observe social distancing rules.
Aside from the big brother aspect of this plan how exactly will the Philippines implement it? The national ID card system has been a bust so far. How then will they ensure these passports work and prevent against fraud?
What a pandemic right? Millions dead! Many more sick and on the way to death. Right? Wrong!
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| https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1125470 |
The Department of Health (DOH) on Tuesday reported 247 new recoveries, pushing the country's total number of recovered cases from the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) to 429,419.
In its 4 p.m. case bulletin, the DOH said the figures represent 92.8 percent of those who tested positive for the virus that has so far beaten the illness.
The agency also reported 1,314 new confirmed cases and 66 new deaths.
These figures brought the overall tally of active cases to 24,375 and the death toll to 9,021.
The DOH said about 82.6 percent of the active cases are mild, 8.5 percent are asymptomatic, 2.9 percent are severe, 0.31 percent are moderate, and 5.7 percent are in critical condition.
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