News Roundup 24 June 2020
Jun 24, 2020 • 2 min Read
Philippines’ COVID-19 cases climb to 32,295 with 470 new infections | INQUIRER.NET – The Philippines’ coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases reached 32,295 on Wednesday, with the Department of Health (DOH) reporting 470 new infections. Of the new cases logged, 357 were listed as “fresh” cases, while the remaining 113 were results returned “late” or results released four or more days ago due to DOH’s backlog. Total recoveries, however, increased to 8,656 since 214 additional patients managed to survive the respiratory illness. On the other hand, the total death count increased to 1,204 with 18 new fatalities.
Local fishers blame dredging for dwindling fish catch in Zambales | PHILSTAR.COM – Dredging operations in the coastal waters of Zambales have depleted fish catch in the area, a national fishers group said Wednesday. Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) said the provincial government of Zambales should be held “liable” for allowing such operations. Pamalakaya national chairperson Fernando Hicap said Zambales province, under Gov. Hermogenes Ebdane Jr., granted a permit to the operation which “clearly compromised the marine ecology.” “As reports from the ground said that fish catch dwindled since the dredging began on their fishing grounds. The provincial government of Zambales should be held accountable for consenting to such destructive activity at the expense of our marine environment and livelihood of our fishers,” Hicap said in a statement.
DOH trial of promising COVID 19 drug starts July | Manila Bulletin – Department of Health (DOH) Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said that the clinical trial of Avigan could start by the second or third week of July in partnership with the Japanese government. “We are just waiting for the ethics committee clearance for this Avigan trial protocol and we would go to the regulatory clearance of the FDA (Food and Drug Administration),” she said. The health department earlier identified Sta. Ana Hospital, Dr. Jose N. Rodriguez Memorial Hospital, and Quirino Memorial Medical Center as the venue for the Avigan trial. At least 100 COVID-19 patients are being eyed for the trials of the Japanese antiviral, the DOH also said.
High court junks case vs ABS-CBN | The Manila Times – The Supreme Court (SC) on Tuesday junked the quo warranto petition filed against ABS-CBN Corp. by the Office of the Solicitor General (OSG) for being moot. The justices unanimously voted to throw out the petition filed by Solicitor General Jose Calida during deliberations led by Chief Justice Diosdado Peralta.
