Coronavirus Lockdown: 93.9% Recovery Rate, Arrest Those Who Refuse to be Vaccinated, and More!

More news about how the COVID-19 pandemic in the Philippines is being handled by the public and the government.

When it comes to face shields it appears the issue is not science but the decree of Duterte.

https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/news/nation/791889/palace-duterte-statement-on-face-shield-use-considered-policy/story/

President Rodrigo Duterte's statement requiring the wearing of face shields  on top of face masks only in hospitals amid the COVID-19 pandemic is considered policy, Malacañang said Thursday.

“I can confirm what Senate President [Vicente] Sotto and Senator [Joel] Villanueva said that the President did say that the wearing of face shield should only be in hospitals,” presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said during a Palace briefing.

“When the President has decided, that is the policy,” he added.

Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID), the government's policy-making body in the COVID-19 response, can appeal the President's decision, Roque said.

“The President announced a new policy but this is without prejudice to the IATF appealing the decision of the President,” he said.

On the one hand, "the President has spoken" should never be how any policy is decided but, on the other hand, good riddance to face shields. The DOH will appeal and hopefully that appeal gets shut down not just because Duterte has spoken but because there is no science to back it up.

While some have lauded this move on Duterte's part the PNP is warning people that they still need to wear face shields because they have received no new directives as of this time. When it comes to face shields it depends on who is talking. That's because the government does not exactly have a uniform policy especially now that Duterte has made his pronouncement.

One health expert says face shields are a must because of variants which are more communicable.

https://news.abs-cbn.com/video/news/06/18/21/continue-to-use-face-shield-expert-says-philippines-outdoor

An expert infectious diseases urged the public on Friday to continue wearing face shields, even in areas where the plastic coverings are no longer required, to dodge more infectious COVID-19 variants.  

The Delta COVID-19 variant that originated in India, 13 cases of which were tallied in the Philippines, is 60 percent more transmissible than the Alpha variant first detected in the United Kingdom, said Dr. Edsel Salvaña, a member of the group that advises the health department. 

The Alpha variant is already 60 percent more infectious than the original COVID-19 variant, he noted.  

Face shields could serve as an "extra layer of protection" against these variants, he said in a televised public briefing. 

(For me, even if they say that face shields are no longer required, I will continue to use them, especially with the threat of this variant.) 

Maybe they could offer protection but maybe not. But what's worse is that the Philippines lacks the tools to detect those variants.

https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/06/18/21/lack-of-genome-sequencing-kits-slows-down-identification-of-ph-covid-19-samples

Identification of COVID-19 variants in the Philippines has slowed down in the past weeks due to "logistical issues", the Department of Health said Friday. 

For about 2 weeks, the DOH did not report how many individuals were carriers of foreign COVID-19 variants in the Philippines due to the lack of genome sequencing kits, Health 

Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said in an online press conference. 

(Maybe supplies will arrive this coming week... We just encountered some logistical issues.) 

(These supplies will last until the end of the year so we do not see that we will have issues by the end of the year.)

Logistical issues? Hopefully they get that fixed soon.

Meanwhile if not face shields, face masks are in!

https://cebudailynews.inquirer.net/383291/customers-will-be-penalized-for-not-wearing-masks-inside-restaurants-bars-cafes-eoc

According to the new order of the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) to all food and beverage establishments in the city, the customers will be required to wear their masks unless they are in the act of eating and drinking. 

If they are simply waiting for their orders, talking with companions, or have finished their meals, they must be wearing their masks. 

“Customers should only remove their face masks when in the act of eating or drinking and should immediately wear them afterwards,” said the order.

I really have to wonder who is going to enforce these regulations. Is the local government paying people to roam about restaurants looking for violators? 

Despite all that nonsense the Philippines could be face mask-free by Christmas.

https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/06/17/21/philippines-covid-mask-vaccine-christmas

Malacañang on Thursday expressed optimism that Filipinos can ditch anti-virus masks in some public areas by Christmas this year, as the COVID-19 vaccination drive ramps up. 

Molecular biologist Fr. Nicanor Austriaco Jr., OP, in a Palace briefing, said Metro Manila and 8 focus areas could achieve COVID-19 containment by October, and herd immunity in November. 

(That is achievable. We are aiming for population protection, or containment as Fr. Austriaco put it, because we know that countries which have achieved containment no longer mask up, at least outdoors.)

Israel and parts of the US, among others, have contained their COVID-19 outbreaks, Roque noted. 

"That's what we are aiming for--tama po si Fr. Austriaco--a mask-less Christmas," he added. 

That would be great but it depends on the vaccination program which involves many factors not the least of which is actually getting vaccines in the country. Maybe by Christmas we will also see segregated spaces for vaccinated and non-vaccinated people.

https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2021/06/19/2106537/segregation-proposed-vaccinated-people-public-places

Presidential adviser for entrepreneurship Joey Concepcion is proposing segregation in business establishments between vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals to allow a safer reopening of the economy, which is still reeling from the impact of COVID-19 pandemic.

“The application can be on time or physical location,” Concepcion said in a phone interview yesterday. He said for instance, in certain sports events like basketball, vaccinated spectators may view the game from an area separate from that occupied by unvaccinated fans.

In movie theaters, he said the segregation could be applied by setting a different showing time for those vaccinated and unvaccinated.

He said segregation is being considered by the private sector as a way to allow further reopening of the economy with some business activities still closed and prohibited from operating.

“These are ideas we are floating on how to increase capacity. In other words, right now, movie theaters are closed, etc. So how do you open it up safely? These are ideas,” he said.

These maybe "just ideas" but they are bad ideas. What is the need of all this madness when the DOH admits that the recovery rate across the country is 93.9%?

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1144063

An additional 4,585 patients have beaten the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19), pushing the country's overall recovery count to 1,257,774 on Thursday.

The Department of Health (DOH), in its latest Covid-19 bulletin, said recoveries account for 93.9 percent of a total of 1,339,457 infections since the start of the pandemic last year.

Another 6,637 new cases and 155 new deaths were also reported. These figures bring the overall tally of active cases to 58,407 and the death toll to 23,276.

The latest figures showed 91.8 percent of the active cases are mild, 3.8 percent are asymptomatic, 1.8 percent are severe, 1.30 percent are moderate, and 1.3 percent are in critical condition.

Look at those statistics and tell me again that this is a pandemic. It's not. 

As the vaccine program continues, the Philippines is set to receive 40 million doses of Pfizer's vaccine which the DOH says is key to herd immunity, quarantine statuses will change which means traffic will increase.

https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2021/06/19/2106550/mmda-expects-worst-edsa-traffic

The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) has admitted it is “expecting the worst” for traffic on EDSA as the number of cars using the major thoroughfare is approaching pre-pandemic figures.

In an interview with One News yesterday morning, MMDA Chairman Benhur Abalos said the number of cars currently using the avenue is already nearing 400,000 – almost similar to the “Carmageddon” along EDSA before the COVID-19 pandemic struck last year.

“Now, that is our situation. Only a few (thousand number of cars) and we are back to the (number of cars during) pre-pandemic time,” Abalos said in Filipino and English. “There is only a difference based on the status. For example, when the new variant (of COVID-19) was found earlier in the year, the number (of cars) dipped by 10,000. Every time there is a new status, the number dips. But for now, let us expect the worst. Let us expect it to a number closer to pre-pandemic figures,” he added. To alleviate traffic congestion along EDSA, Abalos said they are looking into instituting several possible policies, taking into consideration that the capacity is only about 300,000 cars a day.

Traffic maybe increasing but getting back to normal is not going to happen anytime soon. 

Contrary to the way this article started it turns out Duterte has not done away with face shields but has instead made them mandatory both inside and outside as a way to avoid "disaster for the nation."

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1144480

The “small inconvenience” of wearing face shields is a “small price to pay” to prevent impending “disaster” caused by new coronavirus strains, President Rodrigo Duterte said on Monday.

Duterte defended his decision to retain the mandatory face shield policy, citing the need to be more cautious over the highly infectious Delta coronavirus variant (B1617) first discovered in India.

The Philippines, he said, could not afford another coronavirus wave as it would take a toll on the country’s economy.

He also cited reports that the new coronavirus strain could be resistant to some Covid-19 vaccines.

“I will apologize to the Filipino people that this thing was being discussed openly and many thought that we were ready to do away with the face [shields]. But with the kind of aggressive infection that poses a very grave danger to…it’s a small inconvenience, actually. I know that it is inconvenient really to be wearing the mask, adjusting it from time to time. But that is only a very small price to pay than rather gamble with doing away with it and courting disaster,” Duterte said in a meeting with members of the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID), some Cabinet members, and medical experts.

His decision to retain the mandatory face shield policy came following health experts’ recommendation to “triple” precautions against the Delta coronavirus strain.

“As of now, the face [shield] is on...It is to the national interest that we must triple our effort because I said we do not know if it would require a new vaccine which has to be invented first. Second, we cannot afford a second wave because it might be far worse than the first and then we will have a problem with the economy and as I said it would be disaster for the country,” he added.

He also clarified that he never said with finality that he would lift the mandatory wearing of face shields.

There is still no scientific evidence to support the wearing of face shields and the Philippines, along with Peru, remains the only nation in the world requiring this accouterment. This announcement comes after a few days of conflicting statements from both the Palace and the DOH regarding the necessity of face shields. There is more confusion regarding quarantine classifications as the DOH wants to see them lifted  to give LGUs a freer hand at managing the pandemic while the Palace says that will not be happening anytime soon. 

One LGU, Cebu City, is not at all on board with the national government. They have filed a lawsuit against the IATF over the protocols regarding quarantining incoming travelers. Duterte reacted by saying he will not abide by any court order in this matter as his word is law.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1449063/duterte-says-he-wont-obey-courts-over-pandemic-management

“I don’t want to lock horns with the judiciary. I said I respect it. But there are times that, you know… the courts can function normally and maybe grant injunctions,” Duterte said, speaking partly in Filipino. “But this time, I said they are put on notice that I will not be stopped. I will not obey the courts in the matter now of managing the pandemic.”

All of this is moot now because after this tirade Cebu Governor Gwen Garcia relented and said they would follow the national protocols set by the IATF. 

Despite being a lawyer Duterte has zero respect for the courts or for the rule of law for that matter. He is on record as dismissing the Constitution as being just a piece of paper. His newest outrageous, and unenforceable, threat is that he will have those who refuse to be vaccinated arrested and forcibly injected.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1449112/you-dont-want-to-get-vaccinated-vs-covid-19-then-face-possible-arrest-duterte-warns

“They are hard-headed.  Don’t get me wrong. There is a crisis being faced in this country. There is a national emergency. If you don’t want to get vaccinated, I will have you arrested. And I will inject the vaccine in your butt. [CURSES]. You are pests. We are already suffering and you’re adding to the burden,” Duterte said, speaking partly in Filipino.

“So all you Filipinos listening, watch out. Don’t force my hand into it…  I have a strong arm for that. Nobody likes it. But if you won’t get vaccinated, leave the Philippines. Go to India or somewhere — to America.  But as long as you are here and you are a human being that can carry the virus, get yourself vaccinated,” he added.

The President also threatened to ask the Department of the Interior and Local government to order barangay officials to list people who would refuse to get vaccinated. In jest, he added that he would have them injected ivermectin — the controversial anti-parasitic drug that some doctors claim could cure COVID-19.

“These are the stupid people who don’t like to be vaccinated. And they are really the carriers, you know. They can travel from one place to another and carrying the virus and contaminating other people. You people who don’t like to get vaccinated, I’ll have injected with a vaccine for pigs— this ivermectin. That will really kill [the virus], including you,” he said.

Everything about this "joke" is stupid. Duterte is apparently unaware that the vaccine offers no immunity and that even the vaccinated can be carriers and get sick. But apparently the Palace is insistent about this. 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1449391/palace-law-ordinance-needed-to-arrest-people-refusing-to-get-covid-19-vaccine

According to presidential spokesperson Harry Roque, the country’s jurisprudence allows the government to compel mandatory vaccination but that such action would still need a law or ordinance to provide for the punishment of people unwilling to get jabbed against the disease. 

(Under the jurisprudence of the Philippines and America, the government can implement compulsory vaccination but it needs a legal basis so it needs either an ordinance or a law that would provide for the punishment of those who refuse to get vaccinated.) 

The Palace official also said the State has an inherent police power to implement policies, even if it could violate certain rights, to protect public health. 

(When you say police power, there are really policies that could violate rights in exchange for the larger interest and this is the public health and public safety.) 

Roque added that the Executive branch could easily ask Congress to draft a law on the matter but he said President Rodrigo Duterte hopes it does not come to that point. Duterte earlier threatened to have individuals who refuse to get COVID-19 vaccines arrested. 

Roque then said Duterte only made the threat to “emphasize what the state can do.”

These statements soundly rebuke those who defended Duterte's remarks as merely expressing his exasperation. The Palace really thinks the government has both the power and prerogative to force vaccinations upon penalty of arrest. They also want to make that scenario a reality if it comes "to that point." Even Duterte's legal counsel, Panelo, says Duterte has a, "constitutional command" to enforce such a law.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1144674

In a press statement, Panelo defended Duterte’s warning, saying the Chief Executive's statement is “not without any constitutional basis”.

Citing Article 2, Section 4 of the 1987 Constitution, Panelo said “the prime duty of the government is to serve and protect the people”.

“Thus, with the prime duty of the government to serve and protect the people — as constitutionally enshrined in Article 2, Section 4 — the President as its head is charged with the obligation to do what is necessary to comply with the constitutional command,” he said.

What a twisted reading of the Constitution. With this interpretation basically any law could be passed in the name of public safety. In a land where liberty is not much valued the Supreme Court would likely uphold it.