More news about how the COVID-19 pandemic in the Philippines is being handled by the public and the government.
Cebu City has finally deactivated its Emergency Operations Center for COVID-19.
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| https://cebudailynews.inquirer.net/507631/cebu-city-deactivates-eoc-for-covid-19 |
The Cebu City government deactivated its Emergency Operations Center (EOC) for COVID-19 on Thursday, June 1, 2023.
Cebu City Councilor and former Cebu City EOC deputy chief implementer Joel Garganera told reporters that starting Thursday, the city’s COVID-19 case management and other COVID-19-related concerns will be transferred to the Cebu City Health Department (CHD) headed by Dr. Daisy Villa.
“As to its deactivation, the WHO (World Health Organization) declared the end of the pandemic and cases are at [a] manageable level. CHD also assumed the responsibility under their community surveillance,” Garganera said.
“It will now be up to the Mayor to reactivate it again if the need arises,” he added.
Their reasoning is that the WHO has declared the end of the pandemic. If only the DOH would listen but they are on record saying the WHO's proclamation does not mean the pandemic is over.
The pandemic is over but one town in La Union is reimposing face masks indoors.
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| https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1202667 |
The municipality of Agoo has required anew the wearing of face mask in public and private indoor places in the town to prevent the spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19).
In an Executive Order (EO) No. 28 obtained by the Philippine News Agency on Thursday, Agoo Mayor Frank Sibuma said proactive measures must be implemented to ensure the protection of the community against Covid-19.
This after the Municipal Health Office recorded an upsurge in the town’s active cases in the past weeks with 17 cases as of May 30. The order took effect on Wednesday, May 31.
“This order shall apply to all residents, non-residents, who will enter Agoo, traders, business establishments, religious congregations, and government and non-government offices located within the municipality,” he said.
The EO stated that the general public is required to use face mask when entering public and private indoor places within the jurisdiction of Agoo such as hospitals, health clinics, schools or educational institutions, government, and private offices, places of worship, business establishments, restaurant bars, enclosed stores, shopping malls, beauty and grooming parlors, gymnasiums, and other buildings with enclosed walls that are considered indoors.
It added that inside houses and residential dwellings, the wearing of a face mask is at the discretion of the family head or subdivision supervisor for rented or exclusive dwelling areas.
Sibuma said the wearing of face mask is also required within the premises of Agoo Hypermarket and public transportation plying within the town.
“The concerned heads of offices and business managers shall provide alcohol or sanitizer stations at the entrance of their respective offices or establishments for customers and clients,” he said.
The organizers of indoor events such as sports activities, graduation ceremonies, birthdays, weddings, and baptisms, among others are also required to ask the attendees to wear facemasks and to provide sanitizer or alcohol stations.
Regular sanitation of indoor buildings is also enjoined, he added.
Why are they doing this? The pandemic is OVER!
Bivalent vaccines have finally arrived in the Philippines.
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| https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1779306/over-390000-doses-of-donated-bivalent-jabs-from-lithuania-arrive-in-ph-says-doh |
Over 390,000 bivalent COVID-19 vaccine doses from the Lithuanian government arrived in the country on Saturday night, according to the Department of Health (DOH).
In a Facebook post, the DOH said it received the bivalent vaccines at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia) Terminal 3 in Pasay City.
“It is with great pleasure that we have received such generous donations from the Lithuanian government and our sincerest gratitude to our partner agencies for being one with the DOH in seeing that within our reach is a bountiful future, one that is most achievable starting with ensuring that we have sufficient protection against the COVID-19 virus,” DOH officer-in-charge Dr. Maria Rosario Vergeire said.
“To every eligible Juan and Juana, we urge everyone to get the opportunity to gain longer and stronger protection by getting vaccinated against COVID-19. Together, let us move towards a healthier Pilipinas,” she added.
The DOH earlier said healthcare workers, senior citizens and individuals with comorbidities will be prioritized.
Vaccines were wasted in the past. How will these vaccines be used effectively? Infectious diseases expert Dr. Rontgene Solante has an answer.
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| https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/nation/872041/solante-suggests-targeting-vulnerable-recipients-of-bivalent-covid-19-jabs-to-avoid-wastage/story/ |
Infectious diseases expert Dr. Rontgene Solante on Monday said the government should soon consider targeting the vulnerable population to be prioritized in receiving COVID-19 bivalent vaccines to avoid wastage.
The health professional made the remark when asked what could be done to ensure that these vaccines targeted against the Omicron variant and the original COVID-19 strain will not be spoiled, just like what happened to the 50 million doses that expired in March.
(It's important at this point in time to see and test if our acceptance of vaccines is still good, especially for this COVID-19. If, for example, the vaccination rate is low, we need to recalibrate. Most likely, we just have to target the vulnerable population moving forward.)
(With regards to prioritization, if the bivalent vaccines are not much accepted by the healthcare workers or the elderly, then we must quickly move up to the immunocompromised and those with comorbidities so that they would not go to waste.)
The first batch of bivalent jabs arrived in the Philippines on Saturday. These were more than 390,000 doses donated by Lithuania.
Currently, only adults belonging to A1 (healthcare workers) and A2 (senior citizens) categories are allowed to receive the Pfizer bivalent vaccine as third booster dose. They need to wait at least four months after receiving their second booster shot before they take the next one.
Inoculation for other population groups, meanwhile, will be opened in succeeding phases, subject to the availability of stocks and possible technical changes, according to the Department of Health.
Of course since the vaccine is not mandatory it really depends on if those who qualify for it will be willing to take it.
Nationwide, the daily average of new COVID-19 cases is down by 22%.
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| https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1202896 |
The country’s daily average of new coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) cases decreased by 22 percent from May 29 to June 4, the Department of Health (DOH) reported Monday.
In its latest case bulletin, the agency recorded 1,301 daily infections, a 366-case decrease from the 1,667 recorded between May 22 to 28.
A total of 9,107 new cases were recorded in the recent week.
The tally of severe and critical infections increased to 559 from the previous week’s 554.
Ten deaths were verified during the past week with three of them occurred from May 22 to June 4.
Don't forget this is the nationwide average. Even if some areas are up the average is down.
Marcos has finally appointed a Health Secretary.
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| https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/06/06/23/dr-ted-herbosa-takes-oath-as-doh-secretary |
Dr. Teodoro "Ted" Herbosa took his oath Tuesday as secretary of the Department of Health.
He was sworn into office before President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. at the Malacañan Palace.
"The DOH family welcomes this development, as this is crucial in the Department's operations. With this transition, the DOH ensures that the healthcare services will remain unhampered," the agency said in a statement.
Herbosa served as a DOH undersecretary from 2010 to 2015 and was the regional director of the department's National Capital Region office. He was also a special adviser to the National Task Force Against COVID-19 during the height of the pandemic.
- Well good for him. Hopefully he is not so cowardly.
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