covid-philippines-iatf | ABS-CBN News

Duterte COVID-free in last swab test as disease strikes PSG: ally

ABS-CBN News
Updated as of Apr 08 11:30 AM

President Rodrigo Duterte tested negative for COVID-19 in his last swab test, an ally said on Thursday, after at least 126 members of his security team caught the respiratory disease.  Read more »

PSG says 126 members catch COVID-19, 'not closely detailed' with Duterte

Jamaine Punzalan, ABS-CBN News
Posted at Apr 07 07:06 PM

 The Presidential Security Team said on Wednesday 126 of its members recently caught COVID-19, but were "not directly or closely detailed" with President Rodrigo Duterte, who cancelled his public address this week.  Read more »

FDA receives application for COVID-19 patients' use of veterinary drug

ABS-CBN News
Posted at Apr 05 04:41 PM

The Food and Drug Administration has received an application for the compassionate use of veterinary drug ivermectin for COVID-19 patients, Malacañang said on Monday  Read more »

Palace: 'So be it' if actor is on COVID-19 vaccination 'substitution list'

Jamaine Punzalan, ABS CBN News
Posted at Mar 25 04:59 PM

If actor Mark Anthony Fernandez is indeed on Parañaque City's COVID-19 vaccination substitution list, then "so be it", Malacañang said on Thursday amid criticisms against his inoculation against the coronavirus ahead of health workers and other priority groups. Read more »

No potential charges vs civilian COVID-19 vaccination line-jumpers: DILG

ABS-CBN News
Updated as of Mar 25 06:08 PM

Civilians like actor Mark Anthony Fernandez who are not part of the government's COVID-19 vaccination priority list but have received shots have no legal liabilities as of this time, the Department of the Interior and Local Government said on Thursday. Read more »

Palace spox Harry Roque completes quarantine, tests negative for COVID-19

Jamaine Punzalan, ABS CBN News
Updated as of Mar 25 02:57 PM

Malacañang spokesman Harry Roque said on Thursday he has tested negative for the novel coronavirus and completed his 2-week quarantine for COVID-19, after catching the disease.    Read more »

DILG to issue show cause order vs Parañaque mayor over actor's COVID-19 vaccination

Jamaine Punzalan, ABS-CBN News
Updated as of Mar 25 02:27 PM

The Department of the Interior and Local Government said on Thursday it would ask Parañaque City Mayor Edwin Olivarez to explain why actor Mark Anthony Fernandez was vaccinated against COVID-19, even though limited jabs are reserved for health workers.    Read more »

'Never' any requirement for firms eyeing COVID-19 vaccine purchase— Duterte adviser

Jamaine Punzalan, ABS CBN News
Posted at Mar 24 04:47 PM

The government "never" imposed any requirement for private firms that eyed procuring COVID-19 vaccines, an adviser of President Rodrigo Duterte said on Wednesday.  Read more »

Duterte not questioning COVID-19 vaccine law he signed: spokesman

ABS-CBN News
Posted at Mar 24 04:06 PM

President Rodrigo Duterte is not assailing a law for COVID-19 vaccine procurement that he signed, his spokesman said on Wednesday, clarifying the Chief Executive's recent remark on compensation for adverse side effects from the drug.  Read more »

COVID-19 cases climbing in 2 provinces outside 'NCR Plus'— researcher

ABS-CBN News
Posted at Mar 24 03:29 PM

MANILA — A member of the independent OCTA Research group on Wednesday urged government to monitor an uptick in coronavirus infections in 2 provinces that are not part of the "NCR Plus" bubble area, where tighter quarantine restrictions were enforced to arrest an upsurge in infections.    Read more »

Who can leave or enter 'NCR Plus' on Holy Week?

ABS-CBN News
Updated as of Mar 24 04:21 PM

The Department of Transportation on Wednesday identified groups that can travel to or out of Metro Manila and 4 surrounding provinces, collectively know as NCR Plus, while stricter COVID-19 protocols are in place there during Holy Week.  Read more »

NEDA says tighter quarantine to worsen hunger, unemployment

ABS-CBN News
Updated as of Mar 23 10:58 PM

A return to tighter quarantine will raise hunger and unemployment. figures in Metro Manila, the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) said on Tuesday, as it sought to justify current protocols to slow a surge of COVID-19 cases.    Read more »

AstraZeneca required firms to donate half of COVID-19 jabs to gov't: official

Jamaine Punzalan, ABS-CBN News
Updated as of Mar 23 08:33 PM

Only Britain's COVID-19 vaccine maker AstraZeneca required Philippine firms to donate to the government half of the doses they would procure, an official leading the inoculation strategy said on Tuesday.  Read more »

Gov't eyes simultaneous COVID-19 vaccination drive with private sector by May

ABS-CBN News
Updated as of Mar 23 07:41 PM

The government eyes tapping the private sector for a simultaneous COVID-19 vaccination by May to cover more people at a quicker pace.  Read more »

Nearly one-fourth of Philippine health workers vaccinated vs COVID-19: official

ABS-CBN News
Updated as of Mar 23 05:37 PM

The Philippines has vaccinate nearly a quarter of its frontline health workers against the novel coronavirus, an official leading the inoculation strategy said on Tuesday, as the country battled a surge in infections.  Read more »

Palace: With economy open, NCR Plus bubble not under lockdown

ABS-CBN News
Updated as of Mar 23 05:16 PM

Malacañang on Tuesday denied that Metro Manila and 4 surrounding provinces is under "lockdown", after a former official said government was avoiding using this term and admit "incompetence" in handling the COVID-19 crisis.  Read more »

Manila archdiocese to open churches on Holy Week; Palace warns vs defiance of COVID curbs

Jamaine Punzalan, ABS-CBN News
Updated as of Mar 23 08:55 PM

MANILA — The Archdiocese of Manila on Tuesday said it would open its churches for worship at a limited capacity on Holy Week, a move that Malacañang said was against protocols to curb the surge of COVID-19 infections.    Read more »

Palace rejects calls to scrap coronavirus task force amid spike in infections

Jamaine Punzalan, ABS CBN News
Posted at Mar 23 03:33 PM

Malacañang on Tuesday rejected calls to abolish the inter-agency task force leading the country's pandemic response, denying incompetence even as the Philippines logged record-high COVID-19 spikes.    Read more »

Command center for COVID-19 facility referral 'overwhelmed' with calls

Jamaine Punzalan, ABS CBN News
Updated as of Mar 23 02:18 PM

The One Hospital Command Center that oversees the facility referral for COVID-19 patients is "overwhelmed" with calls for assistance, its head said on Tuesday, as the Philippines battled an uptick in coronavirus infections. Read more »

Metro Manila mayors vote to close gyms, spas, internet cafes: Palace

Jamaine Punzalan, ABS CBN News
Posted at Mar 23 01:01 PM

The 17 mayors of Metro Manila have agreed to temporarily close gyms, spas and internet cafes to curb a spike in COVID-19 infections, Malacañang said on Tuesday.    Read more »