More news about how the COVID-19 pandemic in the Philippines is being handled by the public and the government.
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| https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1187592 |
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has signed a resolution lifting the quarantine requirement for travelers entering the Philippines who are either unvaccinated, partially vaccinated, or whose vaccination status cannot be independently validated.
In a tweet, Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Brigido Dulay confirmed that the President has signed the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) Resolution No. 2 allowing inbound travelers sans quarantine.
Under the resolution, inbound travelers will still have to present a negative result of a laboratory-based rapid antigen test.
“Filipinos and foreign nationals 15 years or older shall present a remotely supervised or a laboratory-based rapid antigen negative test result administered and certified by a healthcare professional in a healthcare facility, laboratory, clinic, pharmacy, or other similar establishments taken within 24 hours prior to the date and time of departure from the country of origin/first port of embarkation in a continuous travel to the Philippines, excluding lay-overs; provided, that, he/she has not left the airport premises or has not been admitted into another country during such lay-over,” the resolution read.
Inbound travelers who fail to present a negative pre-departure test result will be required to undergo a laboratory-based rapid antigen test upon arrival at the airport.
Meanwhile, pre-departure testing for fully vaccinated inbound travelers will no longer be required.
A fully vaccinated person must have received the primary series Covid-19 vaccine more than 14 days prior to the date and time of departure from the country of origin or port of embarkation.
Cebu has also lifted restrictions for incoming travelers.
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| https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/11/05/22/cebu-drops-vaxx-card-requirements-for-inbound-passengers |
Cebu province will be dropping its vaccination card requirements for inbound passengers in its land, air and sea ports effective Saturday, November 5.
In an executive order signed Friday, Gov. Gwen Garcia reiterated the loosening of quarantine restrictions as directed by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
“There is a need to relax testing, quarantine, and health protocols for passengers traveling to Cebu for business or tourism purposes,” her order read.
If travelers are fully vaccinated, they will not be required to present any form of COVID-19 test result.
However, for those who are unvaccinated, they will be encouraged to take a rapid antigen test valid for 24 hours.
The check-in requirements for travelers both vaccinated and unvaccinated will be their ticket and passport along with another identification card.
“Any other requirement, such as Electronic Arrival Cards, shall only be presented upon arrival in Cebu,” the order added.
It also stressed the optional wearing of face masks for all passengers bound for Cebu and the its airport.
The DOLE has lifted mandatory face masks in the workplace for most jobs.
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| https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1187633 |
The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) has issued guidelines on the voluntary wearing of masks in workplaces nationwide.
The measure is stipulated in Labor Advisory No. 22 dated Nov. 2 and signed by Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma.
“This Advisory shall cover all workers and workplaces in the private sector. The wearing of face masks in workplaces shall be voluntary,” it added.
However, the DOLE said the mandatory mask rule will remain in effect in three places.
These areas are healthcare facilities, including, but not limited to, clinics, hospitals, laboratories, nursing homes, and dialysis clinics; medical transport vehicles, such as ambulance and paramedic rescue vehicles; and public transportation by land, air, or sea.
“Elderly, immunocompromised, unvaccinated, and symptomatic individuals, individuals with comorbidities, and pregnant women are highly encouraged to wear face masks,” it added.
Despite this measure, the department also said employers and workers must work together to ensure safe and healthful working conditions in accordance with the provisions of the Labor Code of the Philippines, as amended by Republic Act 11058, and minimum public health standards.
"Employers and their workers may implement a policy requiring the wearing of face masks, taking into account, among others, the hazards and risks (e.g., enclosed space and poor ventilation), industry requirements (e.g.. food safety), and incidence of other communicable diseases (e.g., flu and tuberculosis), including measures to address noncompliance thereto pursuant to the existing company policy, rules, and regulations," it added.
Now that school is back in session the DepEd has asked teachers to return the gadgets they borrowed during the pandemic. The ACT says this will cause an underlying burden on teachers.
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| https://mb.com.ph/2022/11/03/teachers-asked-to-return-borrowed-gadgets-used-during-covid-19-pandemic/ |
A group called out the Department of Education (DepED) for reclaiming laptops, desktops, tablets, and smartphones issued to teachers during the implementation of distance learning amid the Covid-19 pandemic.
“The DepEd is using the ‘learner card’ to insinuate that our teachers are being unreasonable and selfish, when, in reality, it is them who are failing in their duty to provide teachers and learners enough computer devices,” ACT Chairperson Vladimer Quetua said in a statement issued Thursday, Nov. 3.
Citing reports from the ground, ACT noted that teachers in several public schools in Zamboanga del Sur, Camarines Norte, Quezon City, Malabon City, and Cebu City were ordered to return the devices lent to them given that full face-to-face classes already resumed on Nov. 2.
ACT Chairperson Vladimer Quetua criticized DepED’s move because this will add up to the struggles of teachers in performing their teaching tasks.
“When will the Department of Education understand that it is the agency’s responsibility as the employer to provide each of its teacher with the necessary equipment for them to be able to perform their duties?” Quetua said.
“What they should be working on is filling up their backlogs in laptop provision to teachers and not increasing further the number of teachers who has no laptop to use,” he added.
The group also pointed out that teachers need laptops all the time — remote learning or not.
“They need it for lesson presentations in the six hours that they teach, in the remaining two working hours that they make reports and attend meetings, and in more hours at home to prepare lessons, record learning outputs and grades,” Quetua said.
Instead of pitting teachers and students over devices, ACT called on the DepED to focus its attention on other issues that will address the challenges in the education sector, especially those encountered by the teachers.
“It is simply unfair for our employer to expect us to provide the necessary equipment for the performance of our official duties,” Quetua said.
Meanwhile, DepED clarified that only the gadgets that are owned by the schools are being retrieved from teachers.
“These gadgets are the property of the schools themselves,” DepED Spokesperson Michael Poa said.
He explained that the laptops and computers owned by the schools are the only gadgets being retrieved and not those issued to teachers.
The DepEd says only gadgets owned by the schools are being returned but the ACT does have a point. The DepEd needs to provide teachers with the proper equipment to do their jobs.
Face masks remain optional even in the mall but the DOH advises the public wear one anyway.
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| https://www.sunstar.com.ph/article/1945248/manila/local-news/mallgoers-urged-to-keep-masks-on-during-christmas-season |
WITH December 25 just a couple of days away, the Department of Health (DOH) on Friday, November 4, 2022, strongly urged the public to continue wearing face masks when they go to malls and other commercial centers to do their Christmas shopping.In a press conference, Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said they continue to encourage mallgoers to choose to wear their face masks despite the easing of the mask mandate."We hope everybody already knows our own risk levels, and on when should we wear mask or not," said Vergeire."If we are vulnerable -- elderly, with comorbidities, unvaccinated, close contacts of vulnerables -- let us choose to always wear masks inside establishments," she added.The DOH Officer-in-Charge also said mall operators and management are urged to reinforce calls to continue masking when inside their establishments.She said making the use of face masks voluntary does not mean that it should be discouraged.
How are people supposed to learn to live with the virus if they are constantly being discouraged to do just that?
People, including lawmakers, are expressing alarm that infection rates in schools will rise because face masks are no longer mandatory. They have nothing to be afraid of.
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| https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1187920 |
The Department of Education in the Cordillera Administrative Region (DepEd-CAR) said they see learners taking personal responsibility for their safety as they continue to wear masks while in the classroom, especially in crowded rooms.
“Our learners still wear their facemasks inside the classroom even if they are not required to use them which is a good sign that they are looking after their safety,” said Dr. Estela Cariño, DepEd Cordillera director, in a phone interview on Monday.
The official noted that during her visits to the schools since the start of classes last Nov. 2, learners at all levels continue to wear their face masks inside the classroom.
“It is not mandatory but we encourage it, especially in classrooms that are crowded and also considering the indoor setting,” the director said.
She also mentioned that two years into the pandemic, everyone has learned the value of wearing face masks for their protection, which learners have learned to imbibe.
This came amid the DepEd's order for public schools to make the wearing of face masks in schools optional, in compliance with Executive Order (EO) 7 signed by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Oct. 28.
After two years of fear mongering the nation's children, as well as many adults, have become obedient little robots who would not ditch their face mask for all the money in the world despite it not being effective at all. Most of them are likely vaccinated with the experimental COVID drug. Did you know there are only bad side effects if you are afraid?
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| https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1187918 |
What a load of baloney! The long term effects are not known and myocarditis is not caused by fear. As ever they don't tell us the whole story about these deaths. Were they already sick? More than likely.The Davao City Covid-19 Task Force called anew on parents Monday to have their children vaccinated following the recent deaths of two kids from the disease.Of the 10 recorded deaths from Oct. 23-29, one is from the five to 11 age group while the other was from the 12-17 age bracket, Dr. Michelle Schlosser, the task force spokesperson, said in a radio interview.Schlosser refuted beliefs of some parents that children have strong immunity and are not susceptible to Covid-19 infection.“Our data shows that even the young ones whom others think have a good immune system could still die from the virus, especially kids who are not yet vaccinated,” she said.It was unfortunate, she said, Dabawenyos continue to die due to Covid-19 when it can be prevented through vaccination and booster shots.Schlosser said among the vaccinated children, there were no reported adverse reactions following their immunization.“Not everyone will experience it. Only because of fear, others will then experience adverse reactions,” she said.
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