COVID-19

COVID-19 pandemic: Latest situation in the Philippines – December 2021

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COVID-19 pandemic: Latest situation in the Philippines – December 2021

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 are the latest updates from the World Health Organization regarding the vaccines? How is the Department of Health addressing the variants, including the newly identified Omicron variant? What should the public expect in terms of the economy? What’s the status of the country’s vaccination rollout among the general public, children, and in the provinces? What about booster shots?

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

Protesting unpaid claims, private hospitals eye 5-day ‘PhilHealth holiday’

Sofia Tomacruz

Private hospitals burdened by snail-paced reimbursements from the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation were urged to turn down deductions from the state insurer from January 1 to 5, 2022, after claims ballooned during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Read more here.

Metro Manila COVID-19 cases increase, but experts say not cause for alarm yet

Pia Ranada, Sofia Tomacruz

MANILA, Philippines – There has been a slight increase in the number of COVID-19 cases Metro Manila registering in the recent week, with 14 out of 17 cities in the capital region showing increases in both infections and positivity rates, health officials said.

Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire told reporters in a press briefing on Monday, December 27, that cases in the capital region grew by some 49% in the last week, although it remained at “minimal risk” of COVID-19 for now. 

Read the full story here.

DOH bulletin: COVID-19 cases as of December 27, 2021

Rappler.com

DOH bulletin: COVID-19 cases as of December 26, 2021

Rappler.com

DOH bulletin: COVID-19 cases as of December 25, 2021

Rappler.com

DOH bulletin: COVID-19 cases as of December 24, 2021

DOH bulletin: COVID-19 cases as of December 23, 2021

Rappler.com

COVID-19 Weekly Watch: Where the pandemic will take us in 2022

Sofia Tomacruz

The Philippines’ closes 2021 with lower case numbers and hospitalizations, placing the country at minimal risk for COVID-19. In terms of areas to watch, health officials are looking closely at Olongapo City, Aklan, Iligan City, Camiguin, and Tawi-Tawi after they recently registered a slight uptick in cases. 

As 2021 closes, we’re watching how the Omicron variant is driving the next phase of the pandemic and forcing countries to catch up in its responses. Here’s what we’re watching this week of December 20, 2021.

Here is what we’re watching this week of December 20, 2021.

DOH bulletin: COVID-19 cases as of December 22, 2021

DOH bulletin: COVID-19 cases as of December 21, 2021

Rappler.com