News Roundup 09 January 2022
Jan 09, 2022 • 5 min Read
For second straight day, Philippines sets record with 28,707 new COVID-19 cases | PHILSTAR.COM – Just a day after setting a new single-day record, the Philippines on Sunday again recorded its highest number of COVID-19 cases in a day since the pandemic began with 28,707 fresh cases, bringing the national caseload to 2,965,447. The Department of Health in its latest COVID-19 case bulletin reported that the new infections were good for a positivity rate, which refers to the percentage of coronavirus infections based on the total tests conducted, of 44.0% out of 77,479 tests. According to the DOH, 14 labs were not able to submit their data to its system. “Based on data in the last 14 days, the 14 labs contribute, on average, 5.1% of samples tested and 5.7% of positive individuals,” it said. The DOH also reported 2,579 recoveries — bringing the total number to 2,785,182 — while deaths now stand at 52,150 after 15 more casualties were tallied. Active cases, too, are at their highest in nearly three months with 128,114 people still recovering from the infection, according to the DOH. The Philippines is in the middle of its worst surge since the Delta variant. The previous peak during the Delta-driven surge was at 26,303 cases until the DOH recorded 26,458 cases on Saturday afternoon. Earlier, independent pandemic monitor OCTA Research said that the positivity rate in Metro Manila may breach 50% in the coming days. A positivity rate of 50% would mean that one in every two tests comes out positive. The current positivity rates are nowhere near the benchmark of 5 percent set by the World Health Organization for opening economies.
Robredo calls for volunteers for teleconsult program | PHILSTAR.COM – Vice President Leni Robredo on Friday called for doctors and non-medical personnel who can volunteer for her office’s teleconsultation initiative for COVID-19 patients. With the sharp increase in new cases over the past week, Robredo said they expect more people requiring the assistance of their Bayanihan E-Konsulta program. “During the last surge in Metro Manila, we were able to do this: 1,078 doctors and 3,156 non-medical volunteers responded to our call then. This is the kind of effort that we need in the face of this surge,” she said in Filipino. “We will need medical and non-medical volunteers, as well as licensed mental health professionals. The details for signing up is on our Facebook page,” she added. Robredo urged those who require consultation to message the Facebook page of Bayanihan E-Konsulta. Confirmed cases receive a COVID care package kit containing medicines, vitamins, face masks, digital thermometer, oximeter, alcohol and disinfectant. The Vice President said their partner hospitals also continue to prescribe antiviral Molnupiravir for free to qualified COVID-positive patients. Earlier, Robredo’s office reactivated its Swab Cab that provides free antigen testing to close contacts and those exhibiting symptoms.
Amid rising COVID cases, Robredo renews call for centralized contact tracing database, free testing | INQUIRER.NET – Vice President Leni Robredo on Sunday reiterated her call for a centralized contact tracing database and free testing amid the recent rapid increase of COVID-19 cases. During the BISErbisyong LENI program on DZXL, Robredo lamented that contact tracing and testing should not be an issue anymore as the country has been dealing with the pandemic for almost two years already. “Dalawang taon na ‘yung COVID, dapat sana by this time, iba na ‘yung mga problema natin. Dapat sana by this time, hindi na natin problema ‘yung testing. Dapat by this time, hindi na natin problema ‘yung bakuna. Dapat by this time, hindi na natin problema ‘yung contact tracing, ‘yung mga isolation centers kasi enough time to prepare tayo,” she said. (We’re two years into the COVID pandemic. By this time, our problems should have been different. By this time, testing, vaccines, contact tracing, and isolation centers should not be a problem anymore.) She then noted again that contact tracing would be effective if there is a centralized application. “Kung naalala mo, 2020 pa, matagal na nating inuulit-ulit ‘yung kahalagahan na mayroong isang central contact tracing app para effective,” she recalled. If you remember in 2020, we repeatedly raised the need for one central contact tracing app for it to be effective.) “Kung mayroon sanang isang central na app na ‘yung database para sa buong bansa, kahit mobile ‘yung mga tao, hindi siya nali-limit ng mas lokal na contact tracing app. Sinasabi natin dati, dapat sana maayos, nama-migrate dito sa isang central contact tracing app ‘yung lahat ng mga existing,” she added. (If there would be a central app where a database for the whole country is contained, even if people were mobile, the contact tracing would not be limited locally. What we’re saying before is there should be a central contact tracing app where all existing data would migrate to.) The vice president pointed out that there is no excuse why contact tracing is not enhanced.
Robredo raps DOH denial on medicine shortage, asks gov’t to work with drug companies | Manila Bulletin – Despite the denial of the government that there is a medicine shortage in the country, presidential aspirant Vice President Leni Robredo on Sunday, Jan. 9, urged it to coordinate with pharmaceutical companies and drugstores to make sure that Filipinos have access to basic over-the-counter medicines. Her statement came amid the denial of the Department of Health (DOH) and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) that there is a shortage of paracetamol in leading drugstores nationwide. Filipinos on social media complained about the long lines in drugstores, as well as the lack of paracetamol and other basic medicines for flu. Some traveled from the provinces to Metro Manila to line up for hours in drugstores. Robredo said on her weekly radio show over dzXL that ensuring the supply of paracetamols in drugstores is “basic.” “Dapat tinutukan na ito ng pamahalaan (The government should be focusing on this),” the Vice President stressed. “Dapat ‘yung pamahalaan nakikipag-ugnayan na sa mga pharmacies, sa mga drugstore owners, mga drug companies kung papa’no mape-prevent itong pagkukulang na ‘to (The government should be coordinating with pharmacies, drugstore owners, drug companies on how to prevent this shortage),” she added. The aspiring president shrugged off the statement of the Health department that there is no such shortage, saying that incidents of the shortage are “experiential.” Even in her own circle, she’s been receiving reports of people who were not able to buy medicines.
