News Roundup 22 August 2021
Aug 22, 2021 • 4 min Read
DOH reports 16,044 more COVID-19 cases in 3rd-highest daily increase | PHILSTAR.COM – The Department of Health on Sunday reported 16,044 more COVID-19 infections, bringing the national caseload to 1,839,635.
- Active cases: 125,900 or 6.8% of the total
- Recoveries: 13,952, pushing total to 1,681,925
- Deaths: 215, bringing the total to 31,810
Today’s cases mark the third-highest daily increase recorded since the pandemic began.
‘You are not a horse or cow,’ US FDA says in warning vs ivermectin for COVID-19 | PHILSTAR.COM – Ivermectin is only authorized for use by humans in very specific ways, the US Food and Drug Administration said after reports of people being poisoned after taking ivermectin pills meant to treat worms in horses. Interest and persistent claims that ivermectin can be used to treat or prevent COVID-19 have been rising as the pandemic stretches on, a phenomenon that the US FDA said is understandable but is also dangerous. “FDA has not approved ivermectin for use in treating or preventing COVID-19 in humans,” it said in a statement. “Ivermectin tablets are approved at very specific doses for some parasitic worms, and there are topical (on the skin) formulations for head lice and skin conditions like rosacea.” It said that people with prescriptions for ivermectin for approved purposes should “get it from a legitimate source and take it exactly as prescribed.” It said that taking large doses of ivermectin is dangerous and can cause serious harm. “Never use medications intended for animals on yourself. Ivermectin preparations for animals are very different from those approved for humans,” the US FDA stressed. “The FDA has not reviewed data to support use of ivermectin in COVID-19 patients to treat or to prevent COVID-19; however, some initial research is underway. Taking a drug for an unapproved use can be very dangerous. This is true of ivermectin, too,” it said, adding that aside from the risk of overdose, ivermectin could cause dangerous interactions with other medicine that people might also be taking.
Late replacement Yordenis Ugas upsets Manny Pacquiao | INQUIRER.NET – Cuba’s Yordenis Ugas sent Manny Pacquiao spinning to a dramatic upset defeat on Saturday, outclassing the Filipino boxing icon with a composed unanimous points victory at the T-Mobile Arena. In his first fight after a two-year absence from the ring, Pacquiao was made to look every bit of his 42 years as the younger Ugas dominated with a stinging jab and cleaner punching to retain his WBA welterweight belt. Ugas, 35, had only been drafted in to face Pacquiao earlier this month after the eight-division world champion’s original opponent Errol Spence Jr. suffered an eye injury in training. But the defending champion seized his opportunity brilliantly to win on all three cards, with one judge scoring it 115-113 and two others 116-112. “That’s boxing,” a deflated Pacquiao said afterward. “I had a hard time in the ring making adjustments. My legs were tight. I’m sorry I lost tonight, but I did my best.” It was a sweet victory for Ugas, who had been awarded the WBA title after Pacquiao was stripped of the belt by the sanctioning body earlier this year for inactivity. “I’m very excited but most of all, I want to thank Manny Pacquiao for giving me this opportunity in the ring today,” said Ugas, who improves to 27-4 with 12 knockouts. “We only had two weeks of training but I listened to my corner and it all worked out. “I told you I am the champion of the WBA and I showed it tonight. A lot of respect for (Pacquiao), but I won the fight.”
Robredo takes E-Konsulta graveyard shift to handle COVID-19 calls | Manila Bulletin – The Office of the Vice President’s (OVP) Bayanihan E-Konsulta has noted a spike in COVID-19 cases as they are now handling an average of 400 cases per day, a 300 percent increase from a month ago, pushing Vice President Leni Robredo to take on the graveyard shift. Robredo was absent from her radio show on Sunday, August 22, leaving her chief of staff, OVP Undersecretary Philip Dy as a substitute. “Ramdam na ramdam din namin ‘yung pag-increase ng cases doon sa aming (We can really feel the increase in cases in our) Bayanihan E-Konsulta free teleconsult project,” Dy told radioman Ely Saludar. Since last week, the program has been taking on more than 400 cases per day, he said. This was a 300 percent increase from the average of 100 cases a day they were receiving in June and July. The sudden surge in cases from a month ago caught the attention of Robredo, who Dy said monitors the platform from around 11 p.m. until the wee hours of the morning. She also made another call for medical and non-medical volunteers. “Nakatutok na po ‘yan sa emergency thread namin tsaka sa LGU referral thread para kung meron talagang emergency na mangyari, kailangan i-facilitate agad sa ospital or itawag sa local government unit para rumesponde at makatugon dun sa pangangailangan ng pamilya o pasyente (She’s focused on our emergency thread and the LGU referral thread so if there’s really an emergency that has to be facilitated to a hospital or to a local government unit to respond to the nneeds of the family or patient),” he added.
