News Roundup 30 May 2020
May 30, 2020 • 2 min Read
With ‘fresh’ COVID-19 reporting protocol, DOH ‘late’ again in case update | PHILSTAR.COM – On its second day reporting new cases of COVID-19 with a distinction between “fresh” and “late” cases, the Department of Health came right on time — Filipino Time, that is. After successfully making a habit of releasing its daily case updates at a uniform 4:00 p.m. schedule with a grace period capped at less than an hour, the health department on Saturday is seeing another delay like yesterday. The supposed 8:00 p.m. DOH bulletin on Friday which introduced fresh and late cases (results returned to patients within three days and beyond four days, respectively) was published on social media approaching 10:00 p.m. “Simula po ngayon ay hahatiin po namin ang mga numero upang ipakita kung alin sa mga numero na ito ay fresh or newly validated case sa araw at ilan ang na late or delayed lamang,” Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said Friday. The Saturday tally is expected to be released at 8:00 p.m.
Curfew hours to stay even during GCQ—Roque | IQUIRER.NET – Curfew hours will be maintained even as most areas in the country will be placed under a less stringent general community quarantine (GCQ) on June 1, presidential spokesman Harry Roque said Saturday. Previously, Police Lt. Gen. Guillermo Eleazar, Joint Task Force COVID Shield commander, said retaining curfew hours would help in ensuring that measures to prevent the spread of community quarantine are followed.
De Lima incommunicado for over a month; group demands lifting of her visit restrictions | Manila Bulletin – Detained opposition senator Leila de Lima confirmed reports on Saturday (May 30) that for more than a month, and except for the custodial personnel, no one, not even family members and staff, had seen or spoken to her. This is due, De Lima said, to the strict “no access, no visitors” policy enforced since April 25 at the Philippine National Police (PNP) Custodial Center in Quezon City under enhanced community quarantine or modified enhanced community quarantine (ECQ or MECQ.) “Our repeated requests for the relaxation of the strict policy through grant of limited access, under strict terms and necessary health protocols, by family and staff have been denied by PNP authorities,” De Lima said. She has been under police detention for the past three years.
Number coding still suspended next week — MMDA | The Manila Times – The number coding scheme in Metro Manila will remain suspended for next week even if the capital transitions to a more relaxed general community quarantine (GCQ), the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) said Saturday. “Number Coding Scheme is still lifted for next week, June 1 to 5, 2020,” MMDA spokesman Assistant Secretary Celine Pialago told reporters in a text message.