News Roundup 05 April 2021
Apr 05, 2021 • 4 min Read
8,355 new COVID-19 cases push Philippines’ total to 803,398 | PHILSTAR.COM – Health authorities on Monday reported 8,355 additional coronavirus cases, pushing the country’s total beyond the 800,000th mark.
- Active cases: 143,726 or 17.9% of the total
- Recoveries: 145, bringing the number to 646,237
- Deaths: 10, or now 13,435 in total
Monday’s tally brings the Philippines’ overall count to 803,398. The number of active cases is also higher by 8,200 from the 135,526 reported on Sunday.
COVID-19 cases in Philippines may reach 1M before end-April — OCTA Research | PHILSTAR.COM – COVID-19 cases in the Philippines may reach more than a million before the end of April, an independent research group said Monday, as the country continues to deal with a spike in infections that has swamped hospitals. In its latest report, the OCTA Research Team said strict lockdown measures have been “effective in slowing down” the increase in number of new cases in Metro Manila. However, infections still rose by 20% with an average of 5,538 additional cases per day. OCTA Research also noted “rapid increases” in new COVID-19 cases in some cities in the capital region. “Before the end of April, the Philippines is expected to have recorded more than 1,000,000 total COVID-19 cases,” the group said.
China intent on occupying West Philippine Sea – Lorenzana | INQUIRER.NET – The Philippine defense chief on Sunday pressed his attack against the monthlong presence of dozens of Chinese vessels at a reef, accusing China of planning to again occupy maritime features in the West Philippine Sea or areas within the country’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ). The dispute erupted last month when Manila lodged a diplomatic protest with Beijing and demanded the withdrawal from the Julian Felipe (Whitsun) Reef of more than 200 Chinese maritime militia vessels. The military reported that 44 of them were still moored at the reef last week and nearly 200 more were scattered around other reefs and Pag-asa (Thitu), the biggest island occupied by Filipinos within the country’s 370-kilometer EEZ. “The continued presence of Chinese maritime militias in the area reveals their intent to further occupy features in the West Philippine Sea,” Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said in a statement on Sunday. On Saturday, Lorenzana said he was “no fool” to believe the Chinese explanation that the ships were just fishing boats that had taken shelter at the reef due to bad weather, as the embassy had explained. He said the weather was fine and there was no reason for them to remain at the reef. “Get out of there,” he said in Filipino.
Robredo bats for free targeted testing, hiring of more health workers, fair distribution of ayuda, efficient vaccination | Manila Bulletin – Do free mass targeted testing, incentivize those who will be tested positive and need to isolate, set up a contact tracing database, hire doctors and medical personnel from provinces with low transmission rates, and roll out the vaccination program efficiently were the gist of the suggestions made by Vice President Leni Robredo to intensify and make effective the government’s new prevent, detect, isolation, treat, reintegration (PDITR) strategy. In a Facebook post, the vice president listed her suggestions for the government regarding its PDITR strategy for the one-week extension of the enhanced community quarantine in NCR Plus, which includes the provinces of Bulacan, Cavite, Rizal, and Laguna. “Yung mga kaya nating maiambag para maisakatuparan ang suggestions sa itaas, kahit pa gaano kaliit (Whatever we can contribute to apply the suggestions, however small) will be most welcome. Lahat na iba pang suggestions ay welcome din para mapag-aralan (All other suggestions will be welcome so we can review them),” she said. Robredo asked the public not to go out “unless absolutely necessary” and to wear a face mask and face shield, wash their hands, and practice social distancing if they need to go out. She added that the public should monitor themselves for symptoms and isolate immediately once they feel ill. Robredo also asked them to get tested if they have access to testing and register with their local government units (LGUs) for the COVID-19 vaccine program. On prevention, the vice president highlighted the need for the government to allocate a budget for cash aid, as well as ensure its “effective and fair deployment.” Ayuda or aid “will make people be more willing to comply with lockdowns,” Robredo said “because the only reason” they want to go out is because they want to work and provide for their families.
