Senator Bong Go on Thursday (March 12) announced that he and President Rodrigo Duterte will undergo testing for the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
In a statement on Thursday, Go clarified that the testing is only for precautionary measures.
“We are not doing this because we have symptoms of COVID-19; We are doing this to ensure that we are fit and healthy to engage the public and perform our duties in the coming days and weeks,” his statement reads.
The Senator reiterated that he and the President will remain ready to serve the Filipino people.
According to Go, the decision to get tested was because they have been in contact with some Cabinet members that have been exposed to individuals who tested positive for COVID-19.
Go added that the said Cabinet members already decided to undergo self-quarantine.
“It is just prudent for us to take precautionary measures in compliance with the advice of our health officials,” he said.
Meanwhile, the President already postponed his visit to Boracay amid the COVID-19 situation.—AAC
The number of Filipinos overseas who have contracted novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has increased to 9,607 with 10 new infections, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said Tuesday.
In its latest bulletin, the DFA said 28 more Filipinos have recovered from COVID-19, bringing the total number of recovered patients to 5,681.
The death toll remained at 693, it added.
04 August 2020
On day one of modified ECQ in Manila and other parts of Luzon, the total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases among Filipinos abroad passes the 9,600 mark with 10 new confirmed cases in Asia and the Pacific and Europe, and (1/4)@teddyboylocsinpic.twitter.com/ZkyScofIOx
“As we continue to battle against this pandemic, the DFA rallies the Filipinos here and abroad to cooperate and responsibly adhere to precautionary measures of the local health authorities of the respective countries in which they reside,” the department said in a statement.
The DFA also reported that 3,233 are undergoing treatment.
Of this number, 254 are in the Asia Pacific Region, 512 in Europe, 2,327 in the Middle East and Africa, and 140 in the Americas, it added.
MANILA, Philippines — The local government of Mandaluyong has put all barangays in the city under special concern lockdown amid the implementation of the modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) in Metro Manila.
Eleven barangays in the city are classified as areas of special concern by the local government due to high cases of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
But with the reversion of the National Capital Region (NCR) to MECQ on Tuesday (Aug. 4), the Mandaluyong government decided to put the whole city on special concern lockdown.
Mandaluyong’s Executive Order (EO) No 24 stated that under special concern lockdown, stricter curfew measures will be implemented from 8:00 PM to 5:00 AM.
Only individuals classified as Authorized Persons Outside of Residence (APOR) will be allowed to go out.
The city government is also mulling over applying the previous MECQ guidelines anew, such as on scheduling market days in every barangay.
With the start of the curfew on Tuesday night, the local government advises those who work on graveyard shifts to secure a work pass from their employers.
“Yung mga work passes kasi ang requirements lang naman niyan per barangay is to ahow to the barangay their ano certificate of employment. para atleast kahit papaano, makapasok sila sa trabaho nila,” said Jimmy Isidro, the Mandaluyong City government chief of staff.
The city government is also considering enforcing liquor ban in the area anew during the MECQ.
Employees at the Mandaluyong City Hall are also on a skeleton workforce to receive documents and transactions as business in the city is open as usual. — (with details from Vincent Arboleda) /mbmf
MANILA, Philippines — Former Covid-19 National Task Force Adviser Dr. Tony Leachon said he recommended the re-imposition of enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) in Metro Manila when he was invited to the Malacañan Palace on July 15.
Last weekend, medical professionals expressed the same recommendation to the national government in hopes of stopping the mounting coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases.
But because of economic considerations, the government has decided to reinforce modified ECQ instead.
Leachon said he welcomes this decision.
“The MECQ has activity and mobility of 50 percent. It will not totally stop the transmission,” he noted.
“But we will observe in the next two weeks whether the MECQ will arrest the transmission,” he added.
He explained that the number of COVID-19 cases in the country is alarming considering that there are unreported cases, or even deaths linked to the new coronavirus.
“When they go to the emergency room they are severely sick then would be intubated and they die, or they are rejected from the hospital so they die at home, or they don’t have access to RT-PCR because it’s expensive” Leachon explained.
“So ang daming namamatay diyan na ganyan (So, many cases die that way )” he added.
At this point of the pandemic, Leachon is calling on the public to submit themselves to a voluntary ECQ especially the old and the sick.
“Tayo na ang magboluntaryo mismo na huwag na tayo makadagdag. Ang lumabas na lang ay iyong talagang kailangang lumabas, iyong 50% ng workforce (Let’s take it upon ourselves not to add to the problem. Only those who need to go out should be outside, such as 50% of the workforce),” Leachon advised.
“Pero iyong iba, iyong 25% doon sa GCQ ay huwag na po. Huwag na, kasi kapag nagkasakit kayo wala ng pera nga ang government tapos baka magkasakit pa ang mga doktor (But others, the 25% in the GCQ areas, it’s better not to go out. Refrain from going out because once you get sick, the government no longer has funds and worse, the doctors might get sick as well)” he stressed.
Dr. Leachon also highlights the importance of adhering to the minimum health standards, including wearing a face mask and face shield, and using disinfectant for protection. MNP (with reports from Rey Pelayo)
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