WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
How many people have tested positive for COVID-19 in the Philippines? How many have recovered, and how many have died? What is President Rodrigo Duterte doing about it? What should the public expect in terms of the economy and the vaccine rollout?
Bookmark and refresh this page for the latest news updates, opinion articles, and analysis pieces about the COVID-19 pandemic in the Philippines.
LATEST UPDATES
In Northern Mindanao, Bukidnon overtakes Cagayan de Oro in new COVID-19 cases
Bukidnon has overtaken Cagayan de Oro in terms of new COVID-19 infections in Northern Mindanao, as the region saw cases nearly doubling in just a day.
Data released by the Department of Health (DOH) showed that Northern Mindanao’s new COVID-19 cases soared to 603 on Wednesday, May 26 – from 333 on Tuesday, May 25 – or by 81% in just 24 hours.
Read more.
Octa: Not right time for ‘NCR Plus’ to ease to MGCQ in June
Experts studying the coronavirus outbreak in the country have recommended retaining the general community quarantin status of Metro Manila and adjacent provinces Cavite, Laguna, Rizal, and Bulacan or “NCR Plus” in June.
In a press briefing on Wednesday, May 26, Octa Research fellow Guido David said it does not seem right to ease the quarantine restriction in “NCR Plus” even though COVID-19 cases in this bubble are starting to decline.
Read more here.
Dagupan Mayor Brian Lim tests positive for COVID-19
Dagupan City Mayor Brian Lim confirmed on Tuesday, May 25, that he had tested positive for COVID-19.
In a video posted on the Facebook page of the city’s Public Information Office, Lim said he contracted the virus from a close contact who also tested positive for COVID-19.
Read more here.
Face-to-face graduation rites still not allowed due to pandemic – DepEd
The Department of Education (DepEd) said on Tuesday, May 25, that any face-to-face graduation and other end-of-school-year (EOSY) ceremonies in basic education are still not allowed due to the pandemic.
In a DepEd memorandum dated May 24, the department announced the guidelines on the conduct of EOSY and graduation rites for Kindergarten, Grade 6, Grade 10, and Grade 12 students who “satisfactorily meet the curriculum requirements” at the end of school year 2020-2021.
Read more here.
Philippines to conduct real-world study on COVID-19 vaccines
The Philippines will be conducting a study that will look into the effectiveness of coronavirus vaccines in a real-world setting, Department of Science and Technology Undersecretary Rowena Guevara said on Tuesday, May 25.
Guevara told reporters in a media briefing that the study will include all vaccines readily available in the country by the start of the study, targeted to begin in June.
Read more here.
Hontiveros to gov’t: Fulfill promise, vaccinate 60% of Pinoys by December
Senator Risa Hontiveros said the Duterte government should fulfill its promise to vaccinate at least 60% of the Philippine population by December 2021.
“Mangangalahati na ang taon. Saan na pupulutin ang ipinagsisigawan nilang ‘better Christmas’ kung ganyan kakonti pa lang ang nababakunahan sa buong bansa? We are way below our targets. In this current scenario, 2023 pa natin maaabot ang herd immunity,” Hontiveros said.
The senator said the slow pace the of vaccination drive has prompted the government to adjust its target – from 70% of the population by the end of 2021, as first announced by President Rodrigo Duterte, down to 50% to 60%.
So far, she said, less than 1% of the population had been fully vaccinated against COVID-19.
DOH rejects proposal to allot 90% of vaccines to Metro Manila
The Department of Health (DOH) on Monday, May 24, turned down a proposal to devote 90% of the Philippines’ COVID-19 vaccine supply to Metro Manila, citing the need to distribute scarce shots to other regions as well.
Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire made the statement in a media briefing, saying the strategy first proposed by the Octa Research group is not possible considering that vaccine supplies remain unstable.