News Roundup 02 May 2020
May 02, 2020 • 2 min Read
Cardinal Tagle rises as first Filipino Cardinal-Bishop | PHILSTAR.COM – Pope Francis has promoted Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle as Cardinal-Bishop, the highest rank in the Catholic Church’s College of Cardinals. The April 14 appointment was made public Friday, just months after the former Archbishop of Manila vacated his local post to head the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples in Vatican City. Tagle is both the only Asian and the youngest at 62 years old among the 11 present Cardinal Bishops. Cardinal-Bishops, according to the Pontificio Collegio Filippino, “are assigned to the Vatican, and are consulted by the Pope anytime individually or as a group, with regards to any question in the Church.” They are responsible for coordinating, as needed, 223 cardinals around the world.
PH prepares clinical trials of JP drug Avigan to combat COVID-19 | Manila Bulletin – The Philippines is now preparing for the clinical trials of the Japanese drug, Avigan. This is in an effort to find a potential treatment for the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). “Ang clinical trial po para sa gamot na ito ay inilunsad ng Japan at isa po itong collaboration o pakikipagtulungan ng ibat-ibang bansa upang makakalap ng datos para sa Avigan,” said Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire. [The clinical trial for this drug has been launched by Japan, and it is a collaboration of various countries to gather data for Avigan.] The Avigan, which was developed by Fujifilm Holdings Corp., is a drug intended to treat influenza. Based on a recent report of the Japan Times, the Japanese government is set to provide the Avigan to 38 countries in the hopes of treating COVID-19 patients. The East Asian country has started to use the said drug to treat patients with COVID-19 in Japan.
Palace: Ban on gatherings in GCQ areas stays | The Manila Times – The government has backpedaled from allowing mass gatherings, including religious and work-related assemblies, in areas under general community quarantine (GCQ), saying the ban on these activities stays. Palace spokesman Harry Roque made the announcement after some local government units complained about the decision the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) for the Management of Emerging Infectious Disease to allow such gatherings in GCQ areas.Marikina City’s relief volunteers released from detention | INQUIRER.NET – Ten relief volunteers, who were arrested for alleged violation of enhanced community quarantine rules, were released from police custody on Saturday, the Marikina City government said. “The 10 people apprehended while conducting a relief operation were released by the City Prosecutors’ Office this morning for further investigation,” said the Marikina Public Information Office in a statement.
