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Countries battle virus surge as WHO warns of 'exponential' cases

Tom Barfield, with Agence France-Presse bureaus
Posted at Oct 25 09:49 AM

More countries tightened anti-coronavirus measures on Saturday, with France extending a curfew and Belgium bringing forward its own curbs as new infections surged in many parts of the world. Read more »

Countries battle rising virus cases, as WHO sees ‘exponential’ rise

Tom Barfield with Agence France-Presse bureaus
Posted at Oct 24 09:31 PM

Populations weary of social isolation and economic hardship have pushed back against fresh restrictions to slow the resurgent virus' spread Read more »

In WHO overhaul push, EU urges changes to handling of pandemics

Francesco Guarascio and Andreas Rinke, Reuters
Posted at Oct 22 05:15 PM

The European Union wants the World Health Organization to become more transparent about how states report emerging health crises, a draft proposal on reforming the U.N. agency says, following criticism of China's initial handling of the COVID-19 pandemic. Read more »

Coronavirus: it will be the biggest, fastest vaccine distribution plan ever – but can it work?

Simone McCarthy, South China Morning Post
Posted at Oct 21 07:07 PM

The stakes are high for Covax, which not only aims to stop the pandemic but at the same time treat nations, rich and poor, fairly and equitably. The program is about US$200 million short of its US$2 billion 2020 target in finance for poorer countries. Read more »

Enforce quarantine to crush pandemic, says WHO

Robin Millard, Agence France-Presse
Posted at Oct 20 12:02 PM

Contacts of people confirmed to have coronavirus should be properly quarantined, the World Health Organization said on Monday, as the pandemic surges in Europe and North America.   Read more »

Taiwan says Chinese diplomats assaulted official in Fiji

Agence France-Presse
Posted at Oct 19 02:03 PM

TAIPEI - Taiwan on Monday accused two Chinese diplomats of gatecrashing a hotel function hosted by its de facto embassy in Fiji and assaulting an employee. Read more »

PH gov’t open to having more Filipinos volunteer for WHO’s COVID-19 vaccine trials

Kristine Sabillo, ABS-CBN News
Posted at Oct 16 06:15 PM

MANILA — The Philippine government said it would be amenable to raising its target number of participants for the local run of the World Health Organization’s COVID-19 vaccine trial.  Read more »

Sinopharm calls off COVID-19 vaccine clinical trials in PH, Sinovac awaits ethics review

Kristine Sabillo, ABS-CBN News
Updated as of Oct 16 05:23 PM

MANILA — A Chinese vaccine developer backed out of initial plans to hold clinical trials in the Philippines, according to the Department of Science and Technology on Friday. Read more »

World Health Organization eyes cancer drug in treating COVID-19

Kristine Sabillo, ABS-CBN News
Updated as of Oct 16 02:02 PM

Health experts are set to test a cancer drug as a possible cure for coronavirus disease, after earlier clinical trials on HIV and malaria drugs showed little effects in treating the respiratory illness. Read more »

China tests entire city for virus as WHO slams herd immunity idea

Beiyi Seow, with Agence France-Presse bureaus
Posted at Oct 13 02:38 PM

China rushed Tuesday to test an entire city of nine million within days after a minor coronavirus outbreak, as the WHO warned that letting the pathogen run free to achieve herd immunity was "scientifically and ethically problematic".   Read more »

Letting virus 'run free' with eye to herd immunity 'unethical': WHO

Agence France-Presse
Posted at Oct 13 02:23 AM

GENEVA - The World Health Organization chief warned Monday against suggestions by some to just allow COVID-19 to spread in the hope of achieving so-called herd immunity, saying this was "unethical". Read more »

WHO, DOH say PH inclusion in top 20 countries with most COVID cases not cause for worry

Kristine Sabillo, ABS-CBN News
Posted at Oct 12 06:59 PM

The Department of Health (DOH) on Monday said the Philippines ranking 18th among countries with the most number of COVID-19 cases is not a cause for worry since it is not reflective of the country's current situation as regards the coronavirus pandemic. Read more »

WHO urges Philippines to pledge more volunteers for COVID-19 vaccine trial

Kristine Sabillo, ABS-CBN News
Posted at Oct 12 12:00 PM

MANILA — The World Health Organization (WHO) on Monday said it wants the Philippines to increase its number of volunteer participants for a multi-country COVID-19 vaccine trial. Read more »

‘Begin defaulting to empathy’: VP Robredo underscores importance of mental health amid pandemic

Job Manahan, ABS-CBN News
Posted at Oct 09 08:43 PM

Ahead of the World Mental Health day, Vice President Leni Robredo on Friday underscored the importance of prioritizing one's mental health while Filipinos continue to face the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Read more »

World Health Organization calls on governments to boost funds for mental health

ABS-CBN News
Posted at Oct 09 04:45 PM

The World Health Organization has launched a global social media challenge calling for greater investment in mental health. Read more »

Russia’s Sputnik V vaccine for COVID on 2nd round of evaluation by PH experts — DOST

Kristine Sabillo, ABS-CBN News
Posted at Oct 08 07:42 PM

MANILA - Negotiations with Russia for its possible COVID-19 vaccine has reached a second round of evaluation by local experts, the Philippines' Department of Science said Thursday. Read more »

WHO waits for China to approve pandemic origins investigators

Simone McCarthy, South China Morning Post
Posted at Oct 08 12:26 PM

WHO health emergencies program executive director Mike Ryan told a special meeting of the organization’s executive board on Monday that the WHO had selected expert candidates from around the world for the mission and it was now up to Beijing to say who would be on the international team and when they would enter China. Read more »

WHO chief says COVID-19 vaccine may be ready by yearend

ABS-CBN News
Posted at Oct 07 10:59 PM

The head of the World Health Organization said a vaccine against COVID-19 may be ready by the end of the year.  Read more »

Some senators unimpressed with Duque's chairmanship of WHO regional committee session

ABS-CBN News
Posted at Oct 07 08:54 PM

Some senators said Wednesday they are not impressed with the election of Health Secretary Francisco Duque III as chairman of the World Health Organization Western Pacific’s annual regional committee session. Read more »

PH ready to start COVID-19 vaccine trials soon as WHO gives green light — DOH

Kristine Sabillo, ABS-CBN News
Posted at Oct 07 03:25 PM

MANILA — The Department of Health on Wednesday assured the public that the country can immediately start COVID-19 vaccine clinical trials as soon as the World Health Organization initiates the so-called Solidarity Trial.   Read more »