The government can sustain its vaccination strategies in critical surge areas and other high-risk provinces until population protection is achieved by December. Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr., chief implementer of the National Task Force Against Covid-19, said there are 120 million doses of Covid-19 vaccines slated to be delivered until the end of this year. He said the government will also maintain its “geographical approaches” in the vaccination program with the continuing arrival of more vaccines in the next four months. “We can see that the surge areas and those critical or vulnerable areas will be fully protected by November. And

Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief-of-staff, Lt. Gen. Jose Faustino Jr., on Monday afternoon confirmed that he tested positive for the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) through reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test. “I received confirmation that I have tested positive to Covid-19 with the result of my RT-PCR this afternoon,” he said in a statement. Faustino was earlier found positive for Covid-19 by antigen testing shortly before his scheduled meet and greet with defense reporters Monday morning. AFP spokesperson Army Col. Ramon Zagala earlier said Faustino is now undergoing self-isolation along with his close contacts as per protocol. “Fortunately,

At least four units of oxygen concentrator and 1,500 pieces of personal protective equipment (PPEs), including N95 face masks and isolation gowns were turned over to the Ilocos Norte government on Monday courtesy of the People’s Republic of China through its Consulate Office here. Michael Pe Benito, who accepted the donation at the Provincial Resiliency Office, said he could no longer recall the numerous batch of donations from the Chinese Consulate that had been one of Ilocos Norte’s greatest allies in boosting its coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) response. “We are grateful for the Chinese government for assisting us with our

A Philippine National Police (PNP) officer assigned in Ilocos Region is their 100th fatality from the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19). Citing reports from the PNP Health Service, PNP chief, Gen. Guillermo Eleazar on Monday said the latest fatality is a 44-year-old police Staff Sergeant assigned in Police Regional Office 1 who passed away Sunday morning. Although fully vaccinated with the Covid-19 vaccine, the patient was immuno-compromised with high comorbidity. According to his relative, the police officer is undergoing dialysis due to chronic kidney disease (CKD). “He was also on work-from-home status since the start of the pandemic. However, on August

A measure exempting critical medical supplies, including medical oxygen, from any and all taxes during public health emergencies hurdled committee level at the House of Representatives. During a virtual hearing on Monday, the House Ways and Means Committee approved the substitute bill exempting the manufacture, importation, sale, and donation of critical medical supplies and essential goods during public health emergencies. The measure was in line with President Rodrigo Duterte’s request to Congress to provide tax relief to manufacturers of medical-grade oxygen. The bill mandates the Secretary of Health and Secretary of Finance to draw up the list of goods subject

A total of 1,178,048 free train rides have so far been given to vaccinated authorized persons outside of residence (APOR) in Metro Manila as part of the Department of Transportation’s (DOTr) to encourage Covid-19 vaccinations. In a Facebook post on Monday, the DOTr said the free train rides were reached 19 days after the program began, covering the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) in the National Capital Region (NCR) from Aug. 6 to 20. “Mas pinalawig ni DOTr Secretary Arthur Tugade ang libreng sakay para sa mga pasaherong bakunado laban sa Covid-19, simula ika-3 ng Agosto hanggang ika-31 ng Agosto 2021