Coronavirus Lockdown: Marcos Jr. Very Hesitant, Win War vs COVID-19, and More!

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

China has backed off its zero-COVID policy and now infections are spreading like wildfire. They have also reopened their borders allowing Chinese citizens to travel abroad. Many countries are now imposing restrictions on persons entering from China. But not the Philippines. 

https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2022/12/29/2234064/doh-sees-no-need-yet-restrict-arrivals-china-covid-cases-surge

The Department of Health on Thursday said it is not yet time to impose tighter restrictions for travelers from China, which is seeing an explosion of COVID-19 cases following the lifting of strict rules there.

In a briefing, DOH officer-in-charge Maria Rosario Vergeire said the department is confident that existing health protocols and strengthened surveillance systems are adequate.

"The DOH doesn’t think that it’s required or it’s needed already that we close our borders or have regulations or restrictions specific only to China because of what’s happening in their country," Vergeire said in a briefing.

"We are in a much better position now compared to one or two years ago because most of our citizens are fully vaccinated already, and have learned the good behavior of practicing minimum public health standards," she added.

Vergeire issued the statement a day after Transport Secretary Jaime Bautista said he was in favor of imposing COVID-19 measures—such as testing—on visitors from China.

A growing number of countries including the United States and Italy have announced curbs for Chinese visitors.

The health official said that such a policy should be discussed by the government’s inter-agency task force on COVID-19 response first.

"Right now, it is just for us to monitor and observe the situation. But [we will continue to impose] our strengthened surveillance, and of course that regulation that we require a negative antigen test coming from individuals from other countries who are not vaccinated," Vergeire said.

The Department of Tourism disagrees wit the DOH. 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1710051/covid-19-tests-eyed-for-travelers-from-china

The Department of Transportation (DOTr) has recommended the tightening of travel restrictions for people coming from China which is experiencing a surge in COVID-19 cases.

Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista on Wednesday floated the idea of requiring testing for travelers from China as a safety measure, saying that the COVID-19 Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases would iron out the travel guidelines.

“I think we should be very cautious,” he said on the sidelines of an event in Pasay City. Recent reports show that COVID-19 cases in China have been spiking anew, with estimates reaching at least a million per day.

Bautista said they would also look at how other countries were responding to the situation, noting that “other Asean (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) countries are also cautious in accepting Chinese visitors.”

Interestingly enough Marcos is not against placing restrictions on incoming Chinese. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1191700

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Thursday said he is open to having the Philippine government impose additional restrictions on travelers from China following a new surge of severe Covid-19 cases in the east Asian country.

Marcos, however, said the Department of Health (DOH) would first have to study the country's risk of a possible new wave of infections coming from China.

“As long as it’s based on science and we feel that there’s a need, we will do it. But again, it depends on what the true risk is to us,” he said in a video from the Office of the Press Secretary (OPS).

Closing the country’s borders to China will be the last resort, he said, adding that additional Covid-19 testing may suffice.

“Kung (If) it’s something that is manageable, then I’m sure we can find a way to not completely close our borders to China but to find a way, to have a procedure so that those coming from China who may been have exposed or who may have been infected will be tested and ‘yun lang naman ang ating inaalala (and that’s all we are concerned about),” he added.

It's another case of those in charge not being on the same page. But don't worry. They are monitoring the situation. 

President Marcos is off to China despite the surge in COVID cases. 

https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/nation/855770/marcos-to-push-through-with-china-state-visit-despite-covid-19-surge/story/

Despite soaring COVID-19 cases in China, President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. will still push through with his state visit in Beijing next week, an official from the Department of Foreign Affairs said Thursday.

According to DFA Assistant Secretary Nathaniel Imperial, Marcos' trip to China is scheduled from January 3 to 5. The state visit is upon the invitation of Chinese President Xi Jinping.

"Our relations with China is very important and we have received assurances from our Chinese host that all arrangements are being made to ensure the safety of the President and the delegation during the visit," Imperial said.

"A bubble arrangement has been agreed for the Philippine delegation to minimize the risk of exposure to the virus. There are some visits that we could not postpone," he added.

Imperial said every precaution is being undertaken to ensure that no member of the Philippine delegation will not get infected and will not bring back to the Philippines any variants of the virus.

With the administration wanting to appease on China it's no winder they are not eager to put restrictions on Chinese visitors. China has said doing so would be discriminatory which is exactly the point. Who wants sick people in the country spreading thier sickness? 

Four provinces in Caraga have exceeded a 100% vaccination rate for 12-17 year olds. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1191696

Four Caraga Region provinces have attained more than 100 percent coronavirus disease 2019 vaccination rate among children aged 12 to 17.

Based on the Dec. 26 report of the Department of Health in the region (DOH-13) obtained by the Philippine News Agency showed that Agusan del Norte got a 132.86 percent vaccination rate with 42,584 children aged 12-17 fully vaccinated from the 32,052 targets.

Agusan del Sur, meanwhile, garnered 122.17 percent with 77,348 fully vaccinated kids out of 63,313 targets.

Surigao del Norte got a 102.6 percent rate with 47,463 children, while Surigao del Sur with a 115.58 percent rate or 61,725 fully vaccinated children in the age group.

Dinagat Islands province, on the other hand, is more than a point away from attaining 100 percent with a 98.6 percent vaccination rate, or 10,819 from its 10,968 targets.

Butuan City also exceeded its target for the age group as it got a 121.1 percent vaccination rate.

“Caraga region has attained 116.25 vaccination rate for the said age bracket of children with 236,430 fully vaccinated from 274,852 targets,” DOH-13 said.

The report also indicated a 52.2 percent vaccination rate in the region for children aged 5 to 11, with 156,853 children fully vaccinated from the target of 300,245 as of Dec. 26.

However if the state of emergency is not extended the DOH says the vaccination program will not cease but they won't be able to purchase any more vaccines.

https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2022/12/30/2234290/doh-we-cant-buy-more-covid-vaccine-doses-unless-state-calamity-extended

"If the extension will not be approved, we can still continue with the COVID-19 vaccination program using existing doses considering their validity is hinged on their Emergency Use Authorizations (EUAs). But, we cannot procure additional doses, including the bivalent vaccines," the DOH said.

"Also, it is expected that the number of vaccinators will decrease as other cadres such as pharmacists may no longer be tapped, and willingness to vaccinate may decrease as immunity from liability is not guaranteed," it added.

However Marcos is hesitant to extended the state of calamity because there is no state of calamity. 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1710311/marcos-jr-very-hesitant-to-extend-pandemic-induced-state-of-calamity-in-ph

“I’m still very, very hesitant to continue the state of calamity, to extend it because again we are not in a state of calamity anymore. Technically speaking. And that is the wrong mindset to be approaching the new year with,” Marcos said in a video shared over his Instagram stories.

He noted that the government is currently exploring ways to continue granting benefits to healthcare workers in the Philippines sans the state of calamity.

The City of Iloilo echoes this sentiment by declaring they have won they war against COVID-19. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1191714

The year 2022 has brought positive vibes to the city and province of Iloilo.

The city government put a premium on the restoration of Ilonggos’ sense of pride as its major accomplishment while winning the war against the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) that jumpstarted several major programs, including the crafting of its development thrust were considered as among the major achievements for the provincial government in 2022.

“The sense of pride of being Ilonggo, you don’t get that anywhere. We were able to achieve that and that is something that cannot be translated into this project or that project,” said Mayor Jerry P. Treñas on Friday.

Meanwhile, Governor Arthur Defensor Jr. said he is happy with the performance of the province in 2022 and thanked stakeholders for their support.

“This is the year where we transitioned from a pandemic-stricken province to the new normal. This is a recovery year and we are happy with the result of our fight against Covid-19,” he said.

Defensor added that this year, Ilonggos were given the chance to lead lives different from their routine during the pandemic.

Contrary to the fear mongering of the DOH the data shows there was no surge over the holidays. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1191858

The daily average of new coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) cases decreased by 39 percent from Dec. 26, 2022 to Jan. 1, the Department of Health (DOH) said Monday.

From 813 daily infections recorded from Dec. 19 to 25, 2022, the number went down to 494 in the recent week.

The latest case bulletin showed 3,458 new cases and 164 verified deaths.

Of the additional deaths, the DOH said 32 occurred from Dec. 19, 2022 to Jan. 1.

To date, the Philippines has 12,660 active Covid-19 infections.

Hospitalization for COVID is also down. 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1711816/not-that-many-covid-19-patients-in-hospitals-over-the-holidays-doh

There were not a lot of COVID-19 patients in hospitals during the holidays, according to Department of Health (DOH) undersecretary Eric Tayag on Tuesday.

Tayag said that as per the direction of Health officer-in-charge Maria Rosario Vergeire, the DOH visited different hospitals to see their preparations for COVID-19 cases and firework injuries.

“We are happy because while there are patients in the hospitals, there were not that many COVID patients that hospital services for other ailments were not sacrificed,” said Tayag when asked about COVID-19 patients on Teleradyo.

Will 2022 be the last year the DOH issues worthless fear mongering proclamations about the spread of COVID due to Christmas and New Years celebrations?