News Roundup 20 May 2020
May 20, 2020 • 2 min Read
No soldiers hurt in attacks on Army outposts in Maguindanao town | PHILSTAR.COM – Dawlah Islamiya bandits shot with assault rifles and anti-tank rockets two Army posts in Datu Saudi Ampatuan town in Maguindanao in separate attacks late Tuesday. No one was reported hurt from among members of the Army’s 57th Infantry Battalion in the detachments in Barangays Elian and Salbo but the incidents triggered panic among villagers in farming communities nearby. The Dawlah Islamiya, also known as the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters, operates in the fashion of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria. The group, tagged in deadly bombings in central Mindanao in the past five years, has since been trying to sabotage the peace process between Malacañang and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front.
Thai prototype COVID-19 vaccine to be tested on monkeys next week | INQUIRER.NET – Suvit Maesincee, Minister of Higher Education Science Research and Innovation, revealed progress in the development of a vaccine against Covid-19 yesterday (May 19). Mice injected with a prototype mRNA vaccine at the Chulalongkorn University Vaccine Center had produced antibody levels as high as 1:3,000, according to preliminary screening results from the University of Pennsylvania. The prototype vaccine would be tested on monkeys next week, said Suvit. Preparations are now underway for manufacture of the vaccine at production facilities in the US and Canada, ahead of human trials. Meanwhile, the research team has joined hands with Thai firm Bionet Asia, which will help manufacture the vaccine after transfer of production technology from the overseas facilities. At this stage, Thailand would be able to produce a Covid-19 vaccine with the newest mRNA technology to help citizens fight the outbreak.
Duque: We are already experiencing a ‘second wave’ | Manila Bulletin – The Philippines is now experiencing a “second wave” of novel coronavirus infections, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said on May 20, Wednesday. Duque made the announcement during the Senate committee of the whole’s hearing on the government’s COVID-19 response, when asked by Senator Ramon Revilla Jr. on what should be done to prevent a possible second wave.
Parañaque places select Baclaran areas under lockdown | The Manila Times – The Parañaque City government has announced that 10 areas in Barangay Baclaran will be placed under a three-day ”calibrated lockdown” due to the high number of cases of coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19). Mayor Edwin Olivarez on Wednesday placed these areas under lockdown starting 6 a.m. on Thursday until 6 a.m. on Saturday.
