News Roundup 03 September 2020
Sep 03, 2020 • 4 min Read
Philippines posts 1,987 new COVID-19 cases as total hits 228,403 | PHILSTAR.COM – Over 228,000 people have been afflicted with coronavirus disease in the Philippines after the Department of Health reported 1,987 new cases Thursday. This was the first time the Philippine reported fewer cases than 2,000 since July 29 after reimposing a strict lockdown in and around Metro Manila in early August. The country now has a total caseload of 228,403—the highest in Southeast Asia. Of the figure, 65,240 were active cases. Meanwhile, the number of recoveries rose to 159,475 after 880 more people recovered from COVID-19. But 65 new fatalities were recorded.
Senate leaders: No emergency powers needed for Duterte to fix PhilHealth mess | PHILSTAR.COM – Senate leaders on Thursday said President Rodrigo Duterte does not need additional powers to clean up corruption at Philippine Health Insurance Corp. This comes after lawmakers at the House of Representatives, during a joint hearing on alleged anomalies and corruption in PhilHealth proposed granting the chief executive emergency powers to reform the embattled state-run agency. “I do not know what is incorporated or included in their proposal…and what kind of emergency powers they would give because as far as we are concerned, most of us in the Senate is concerned, we know that in this part of the globe, the president of the Philippines is the most powerful president,” Senate President Vicente Sotto III said during an interview with CNN Philippines.
Canada’s top doctor urges mask wearing during sex, no kissing | INQUIRER.NET – Canada’s chief public health officer on Wednesday urged couples to wear masks during sex to prevent the spread of the new coronavirus. “Sex can be complicated in the time of Covid-19, especially for those without an intimate partner in their household or whose sexual partner is at higher risk for Covid-19,” Theresa Tam said in a statement. “The lowest risk sexual activity during Covid-19 involves yourself alone,” she added. But those having sex with a partner who is at risk or from outside their household should be “skipping kissing and avoiding face-to-face contact or closeness (and) consider using a mask that covers the nose and mouth.” Tam said people should also limit their consumption of alcohol or “other substances so you and your partner(s) are able to make safe decision.” She noted that there is a “very low likelihood” of transmission of the new coronavirus through semen or vaginal fluids. But she still urged condom use.
DENR hit for planning to fill Manila baywalk with white sand | Manila Bulletin – A fisherfolk group on Thursday criticized the plan of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to fill the 500-meter stretch of the baywalk with white sand as part of the Manila Bay rehabilitation. Pamalakaya described the plan as “artificial rehabilitation focusing on aesthetic appearance rather than addressing the environmental degradation problems” of Manila Bay. “The DENR doesn’t have any concrete plan to restore the bay that it resorts to focus on external beautification which is actually a sham and artificial, instead of a genuine rehabilitation,” Pamalakaya national chairperson Fernando Hicap said in a statement. “Filling of white sand would less likely contribute to the rehabilitation and restoration of the degrading Manila Bay,” he added. The group instead called for the restoration of mangrove areas that were destroyed due to destructive conversion projects.
Will trade for food: Online barter soars | The Manila Times – Struggling to make ends meet, Lorraine Imperio swapped a pair of Nike slip-on shoes for a whole dressed chicken on an online bartering site, one of dozens that have sprouted up during the Philippines’ virus lockdowns. With millions stripped of their jobs and many forced to stay home to slow the coronavirus spread, Filipinos have flocked to Facebook groups to exchange their possessions, including kitchen appliances, children’s toys and designer handbags — mostly for food. “It’s so difficult nowadays. You don’t know where you’ll get the money to settle the bills for groceries,” said Imperio, a mother of two whose husband works part-time at a doughnut shop in Manila. His hours have been slashed because of the pandemic, and he now only earns about P9,000 a month, half of which is used to pay the rent for the family’s apartment. Online bartering groups have provided a lifeline to the Imperios and other Filipinos hit hard by the country’s months-long virus restrictions that started in March and have sent the economy plunging into a deep recession.
