News Roundup 30 December 2021
Dec 30, 2021 • 4 min Read
New COVID-19 infections jump to 1,623; active cases rise to 11,772 | INQUIRER.NET – The number of new COVID-19 cases leaped to 1,623 on Thursday, increasing active infections in the country to 11,772 based on the latest report of the Department of Health (DOH). The 1,623 new coronavirus infections – the highest number of new cases reported since November 21 – also indicated that the positivity rate rose to 6.6 percent, representing the number of people found positive for the virus from among the 30,933 tested. The latest positivity rate was also highest since November 4 and way above the 5 percent threshold of the World Health Organization for controlled transmission of the SARS-CoV-2, which causes COVID-19. Of the new cases, the DOH said 97 percent or 1,582 occurred within the recent 14 days and that the National Capital Region (NCR) topped the list of regions with fresh infections at 1,063 or 67 percent in the recent two weeks. NCR is followed by Region 4-A with 173 (11 percent) and Region 3 with 101 (6 percent) new cases. Active cases, meanwhile, consisted of 5,737 people with mild symptoms; 577, with no symptoms or asymptomatic; 3,315, with moderate symptoms; 1,771, with severe symptoms; and 372 people under critical status. The DOH also reported that 256 more COVID-19 patients recovered from the disease while 133 others To date, total confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the country stood at 2,841,260 while recovered patients now reached 2,778,115. The death toll was at 51,373 as of December 30. The DOH said December 30 figures exclude data from two laboratories that were not operational when the tests were conducted on December 28 as well as information from three other laboratories that were not able to submit details on time to the COVID-19 Document Repository System. “Based on data in the last 14 days, the 5 labs contribute, on average, 0.1% of samples tested and 0% of positive individuals,” the DOH said.
Philippines stays under Alert Level 2 until January 15 | PHILSTAR.COM – The Philippines will remain under Alert Level 2 until January 15 despite the uptick in COVID-19 cases and concerns over the heavily-mutated Omicron variant, Malacañang announced Thursday. Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles, who is also acting presidential spokesperson, said the entire country will stay under Alert Level 2 from January 1 to 15. Under Alert Level 2, the maximum operational capacities for several businesses and activities is 50% for indoor venues, fully vaccinated persons, and those below 18 years of age, even if unvaccinated and 70% for outdoor venues provided all workers of the establishments are fully inoculated against COVID-19. The Philippines is seeing an increase in COVID-19 infections as more people go out and join gatherings this holiday season, the Department of Health said. The agency on Wednesday reported 889 additional cases—the highest since November 27. Local authorities have so far detected four cases of the rapidly-spreading Omicron variant—all among international arrivals.
Robredo says her team receives, packs over P42-M relief goods for ‘Odette’ victims in 2 weeks | Manila Bulletin – Aspiring president Vice President Leni Robredo bared that her office has already received more than P42-million worth of relief goods intended for typhoon Odette survivors in Visayas and Mindanao. Robredo disclosed on Thursday, Dec. 30, that within the two-week run of the relief operations center of the Robredo People’s Council (RPC) in Katipunan Avenue, Quezon City, they were able to receive a total of P42.35-million worth of various goods. Through a partnership with the Tanging Yaman Foundation, they were also able to raise P33.58-million of cash donations as of Thursday morning. The vice president also said that nearly 5,000 individuals responded to her call for volunteers, who worked in shifts at the relief hub to repack sacks of rice, noodles, biscuits, canned goods, hygiene kits, face masks, and bottles of alcohol among others. On Thursday, Robredo said, the repacking and receiving of relief goods at the Katipunan relief hub had winded down but the RPC, the umbrella organization of campaign volunteers, will continue to provide relief assistance to the families through its local partners on the ground. The Tanging Yaman Foundation, on the other hand, will continue to receive and repack goods until the end of January. The Vice President also reiterated her plan to put up Angat Buhay villages, similar to the ones established in Marawi City, in areas like Dinagat Islands where hundreds of families lost their homes. “We will start focusing on early recovery and rehabilitation particularly in terms of providing shelter repair materials,” Robredo said.
