News Roundup 18 December 2020
Dec 18, 2020 • 4 min Read
Philippines records 2,122 new COVID-19 cases; total hits 456,562 | PHILSTAR.COM – The Philippines logged over 2,000 new coronavirus infections Friday, pushing the country’s total to 456,562 as the government prepares for a surge in cases during the holiday season. A week before Christmas, the country reported 2,122 new COVID-19 cases. The last time the daily tally surpassed the 2,000-level was on November 29 when the country had 2,076 additional cases. This was also the highest daily tally since November 8 when the DOH recorded 2,442 additional infections. Friday’s figures did not include data from four laboratories that failed to submit on time. The DOH also recorded 778 new recoveries, bringing the total number of COVID-19 survivors in the country to 420,666. Meanwhile, the death toll rose to 8,875 after 25 more patients succumbed to the disease. Of the total recorded cases, 27,021 or 5.9% are active. Majority or 84% of these are mild cases, 7% are asymptomatic, 5.1% are in critical condition, 2.5% are severe cases and 0.31% have moderate symptoms.
Envoy: 2 US firms ready to supply up to 25M COVID vaccine doses to Philippines | PHILSTAR.COM – Two biotech companies in the United States are willing to supply the Philippines up to 25 million doses of their coronavirus vaccines, the country’s envoy to Washington said Friday. US firms Moderna Therapeutics and Arcturus Therapeutics are ready to supply four to 25 million doses of their vaccines beginning the third quarter of next year should the government find their proposals acceptable, Philippine Ambassador to the US Jose Manuel Romualdez said in a statement. “We are hoping our government will consider the promising candidates of Moderna and Arcturus for inclusion in our country’s pool of anti-COVID vaccines,” Romualdez said. Among the two companies, Moderna is leading with its candidate vaccine widely expected to get emergency use authorization from US regulators soon. Arcturus, on the other hand, has said its vaccine would be ready by the first quarter of 2021. Moderna has said that its vaccine, taken in two doses, is 94% effective at preventing COVID-19, while Arcturus has reported promising results from early stage trials.
#NasaanAngBisePresidente? Robredo responds: ‘Andito po ako’ | INQUIRER.NET – Vice President Leni Robredo on Friday responded to #NasaanAngBisePresidente (Where is the Vice President), which trended on social media as rains spawned by Tropical Depression Vicky submerged several areas in Mindanao. In a Facebook post, Robredo said her office has been coordinating with local governments affected by Vicky. “Andito po ako. Kanina pa kami nagco-coordinate sa areas na apektado,” Robredo said. (I am here. Earlier, we coordinated with the affected areas.) “Pagdasal po natin mga kababayan natin sa Agusan del Sur at Surigao del Sur na binabaha ngayon,” she added. (Let us pray for our countrymen in Agusan del Sur and Surigao del Sur who are affected by floods today.) Vicky made landfall in the vicinity of Baganga, Davao Oriental on Friday afternoon. Over 30 areas have already been placed under Signal No. 1. It can be recalled that at the height of the onslaught of Typhoon Ulysses, Robredo, in her tweets, connected netizens pleading for rescue to teams on the ground. The Office of the Vice President also assisted those affected by the recent spate of typhoons.
Japan starts building 2 multi-response vessels for Coast Guard | Manila Bulletin – Japan has started the construction of the two 94-meter Multi-Role Response Vessels (MRRVs) as part of its support to promote maritime safety and security in the Philippines while addressing maritime accidents, aging vessels, and search and rescue during frequent natural disasters. The construction of the new additional 94- MRRVs under the development assistance of the Japan International Cooperation Agency JICA began this week at a safety prayer ceremony in Japan. The JPY 16.455 billion two additional MRRVs are under the Maritime Safety Capability Improvement Project Phase II of JICA and the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) and targeted for delivery within the Duterte Administration. According to its specifications, the MRRVs will feature a helicopter hangar and equipment for helicopter operations, marine environmental protection room, and use of special clad steel plate durable for extreme weather conditions. JICA Philippines Chief Representative Eigo Azuzikawa stressed that the new MRRVs form part of Japan’s continuing support to PCG and to the Philippines’ especially in the new normal and in facilitating maritime law enforcement and commitment in promoting a Free and Open Indo Pacific regime.
Lacson: It’s Duque who dropped the ball in vaccine deal | Malaya Business Insight – Sen. Panfilo Lacson said it was Health Secretary Francisco Duque III who “dropped the ball” in the COVID-19 vaccine deal with drug firm US Pfizer Inc. as he failed to submit a required document. The deal would have brought the country some 10 million doses of vaccines against the coronavirus disease by next month. Because of the alleged mishandling of supply negotiations, Singapore got the vaccines instead. “They could have secured the delivery of 10 million Pfizer vaccines as early as January next year, way ahead of Singapore but for the indifference of Secretary Duque who failed to work on the necessary documentary requirement namely, the confidentiality disclosure agreement (CDA) as he should have done,” Lacson said. Duque, in a TV interview yesterday, said he was just being “cautious” and “prudent.”
