WHO

MANILA — President Rodrigo Duterte would only be advised to repeat his test for coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19), in the event that Health Secretary Francisco Duque III tests positive for the infectious disease, the Department of Health (DOH) said on Friday.

This comes after Duterte had close contact with Duque who is currently under home quarantine after a DOH director tested positive for Covid-19.

Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said Duque is still “in good condition” and now awaiting the results of his Covid-19 test.

Vergeirre said Duterte need not take another test for Covid-19 for now, unless Duque’s pending test results show that the Health chief is infected with the coronavirus disease.

“Kapag lumabas po ang resulta ni Secretary Duque at kung sakaling ito po ay mag-positibo siya, saka po natin bibigyan ng abiso si Presidente para mag-test ulit at para mag-quarantine (If Secretary Duque’s test result turns out to be positive, we will advise the President to take another test and undergo self-quarantine),” she said in a Palace press briefing.

In an interview with dzMM on Friday, Duque assured the public that he was “okay” and not exhibiting any red-flag symptoms of Covid-19 infection.

Duque was tested for Covid-19 because he has asthma and hypertension, and belongs to the elderly population, Vergeirre said. ‘Fit and healthy’

On Monday, Duterte was with Duque when the implementation of month-long enhanced community quarantine in Luzon was declared.

Duterte already underwent a test for Covid-19 at Bahay Pagbabago in Malacañan on March 12 after having close contact with some Cabinet members who have direct exposure to an infected individual.

On March 13, Duterte’s test results bared that he was negative for the coronavirus disease.

In an interview with ANC on Thursday, Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo maintained that Duterte remains “fit and healthy” despite his recent interaction with Duque.

Panelo said Duterte, 74, is asymptomatic and can still perform his duties well.

“I would like to assure our countrymen that he is fit and healthy. Wala siyang sakit. Wala siyang sintomas ng kahit ano (He is not sick. He is not exhibiting any symptoms of Covid-19),” he said.

The Philippines now has 217 Covid-19 cases, with 17 deaths and eight cases of recovery. (PNA)

By RUTH ABBEY GITA-CARLOS Duterte’s 2nd Covid-19 test lies

with Duque’s results: DOH GENEVA — The first vaccine trial for the deadly coronavirus has begun, the World Health Organization (WHO) head said Wednesday.

Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the trial began “just 60 days after the genetic sequence of the virus was shared by China”.

He did not say where the trial is being held.

While the trial is a milestone, health officials say it will take at least 12 to 18 months for a vaccine to be available for public use.

At the virtual news conference held at the WHO headquarters in Geneva, he said more than 200,000 cases of the virus have been confirmed and over 8,000 deaths reported worldwide.

Tedros praised the resea rchers a round the world who he said are acting together “to systemically evaluate experimental therapeutics".

“Multiple small trials with different methodologies may not give us the clear, strong evidence we need about which treatments help to save lives,” he said.

It was for this reason that the WHO and its partners were organizing a study in countries in which some of the untested treatments are compared with each other.

Countries that have confirmed they will join the “solidarity trial" include Argentina, Bahrain, Canada, France, Iran, Norway, South Africa, Spain, Switzerland and Thailand.

“We know that many countries now face escalating epidemics and are feeling overwhelmed,” said Tedros noting that there is also hope.

Countries could do many things such as physica l distancing measures -- like c a ncel i ng spor t i ng events, concerts, and other large gatherings which can help slow transmission of the virus.

many things such as physica l distancing measures -- like best ty trans

Covid-19 vaccine trial begins: WHO

They can reduce the burden on the health system and help make epidemics manageable, allowing targeted and focused measures.

“But to suppress and c ont rol epidem ic s, countries must isolate, test, treat and trace,” Tedro cautioned.

“If they don’t, transmission chains can continue at a low level, then resurge once physical distancing measures are lifted.”

He said that the WHO continues to recommend that isolating, testing and treating every suspected case, and tracing every contact, must be the backbone of the response in every country.

“This is t h e best hope of prevent i ng widespread community transmission,” s a i d Te d ros. (Anadolu)

PRESIDENT RODRIGO DUTERTE AND HEALTH SECRETARY FRANCIS DUQUE III

No need for Covid-19 mass testing yet: DOH

By RUTH ABBEY GITA-CARLOS

MANILA — There is no need yet for a mass testing of Filipinos for coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19), the Department of Health (DOH) said on Friday.

Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire issued the statement as she admitted challenges in the government’s testing and laboratory capacities for Covid-19.

Vergeire, however, ensured that the government is ready to undertake such measure to address the Covid-19 outbreak.

“Sa ngayon po, hindi pa naman nakikitang kailangan nating gawin itong mass testing na ito (For now, we don’t see the need to do mass testing),” she said in a Palace press briefing.

She said the proposal is possible, once there are enough resources.

“Nasa talaan, nasa mapa, nasa radar na kung sakaling dumating ‘yung panahon (It is in our plans, in our map, in our radar that when the time comes) and if we have enough resources and the government can do it, and it is already imperative for the government to do it, gagawan po natin ‘yan (we will do it),” Vergeire said.

In South Korea, anyone who had close contact with a Covid-19 patient can avail of free tests for the novel coronavirus.

Vergeire, however, noted that the move made by South Korea does not apply to the Philippines due to the limited number of test kits.

She said people in the Philippines who can only be tested for Covid-19 are those who have been showing severe symptoms of the disease, the elderly, and high-risk pregnant women.

“‘Yung mga napapabalita po na may delay, totoo po ‘yun (Reports about delay in testing are true). We are being challenged right now with our testing capacity and laboratory capacity,” Vergeire said.

Vergeire noted that the Food and Drug Administration has already approved four Covid-19 diagnostic kits for commercial use.

But she clarified that the approved test kits can only be used by hospitals or laboratories with testing capacity.

In a radio interview on Friday, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said around 125,000 test kits from China and South Korea are expected to arrive in the Philippines on Saturday.

“May paparating na (We expect the delivery of) 25,000 from South Korea and 100,000 from China tomorrow,” Duque said.

As of Friday noon, the Philippines has 230 positive cases of Covid-19 that was first detected in Wuhan, China in December 2019.

Around 18 Covid-19 patients died while eight others already recovered. (PNA)

25 million workers worldwide could lose jobs from Covid-19–ILO

By SAMUEL P. MEDENILLA

BUSINESS MIRROR

AROUND 25 million workers are now at risk of losing their jobs from the pandemic novel coronavirus disease (Covid-19), which the International Labour Organization (ILO) has now tagged as a global “labor and market shock.”

Based on its projection of the impact of Covid-19 on global GDP, the ILO said the virus may cause unemployment to rise between 5.3 million (“low” scenario) and 24.7 million (“high” scenario) from a base level of 188 million in 2019.

The projected figure is higher compared to the global 22 million unemployment during the 2008-2009 global financial crisis.

“This [Covid-19] is no longer only a global health crisis, it is also a major labor market and economic crisis that is having a huge impact on people,” said ILO Director-General Guy Ryder.

With more unemployed workers, ILO estimates income losses for workers will reach $3.4 trillion by the end of 2020.

“This will translate into falls in consumption of goods and services,

in turn affecting the prospects for businesses and economies,” ILO said.

Increased inequality

The labor arm of the United Nations also expects Covid-19 to increase the underemployment rate worldwide. As more countries enforce travel restrictions and quarantine measures because of the disease, the working hours and wages of many companies will be reduced.

“Following travel bans, border closures and quarantine measures, many workers cannot move to their places of work or carry out their jobs, which has knock-on effects on incomes, particularly for informal and casually employed workers,” ILO said in its “Covid-19 and World of Work: Impacts and Responses” reports.

ILO said people in less protected and low-paid jobs, particularly youth and older workers as well as women migrants, will be the most vulnerable to the “job crisis” caused by Covid-19.

“The latter are vulnerable due to the lack of social protection and rights, and women tend to be over-represented in low-paid jobs and affected sectors,” ILO said. Impact review

Here in the Philippines, the growing number of Covid-19 cases, which already reached 202 as of March 18, will “definitely” cause it to review its projected labor impact of Covid-19.

Last month, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) estimated the disease may lead to the displacement of 30,000 to 60,000 workers.

As of March 18, Labor Assistant Secretary officer in charge Dominique R. Tutay said 125 companies nationwide have implemented flexible work arrangement and temporary suspension of their operations due to Covid-19.

None of the 11,000 workers employed by these companies are considered permanently displaced for now.

Mitigating measures

To minimize the employment impact of Covid-19, ILO recommends protective measures at the workplace.

It also urged governments to introduce policies to protect employment and incomes of workers.

Such policies include unemployment benefits, social assistance, and public employment programs, employment retention schemes, and time-bound financial/tax relief and income smoothing measures to support business continuity.

“These measures not only cushion enterprises and workers against immediate employment and income losses, but they also help prevent a chain of supply shocks [e.g., losses in workers’ productivity capacities] and demand shocks [e.g., suppressing consumption among workers and their families] that could lead to a prolonged economic recession,” ILO said.

ILO cited the Philippines among the countries with such existing policies, particularly its new unemployment insurance benefit from the Social Security System. (businessmirror.com.ph)

US plans helping out Boeing to prevent its downfall

ANKARA — US President Donald Trump on Tuesday said his administration is planning to provide financial assistance to aviation company Boeing amid coronavirus pandemic and declining jet orders. "Boeing got hit hard in many different ways," Trump said during press conference. "We have to protect Boeing... We'll be helping Boeing," Trump added, confirming reports from Boeing that it was in talks with the US government regarding a short-term financial relief. "Obviously when the airlines aren't doing well then Boeing is not going to be doing well. So, we'll be helping Boeing," Trump justified his move, not giving details about the relief package.

American airliners have knocked on the door of the federal government for USD50 billion in financial assistance for passenger airlines, along with USD8 billion for cargo airlines and USD10 billion for the nation's airports.

Its top-selling aircraft model was grounded worldwide after two crashes that cost hundreds of lives and hit the company nearly USD19 billion financially per its filings.

Ethiopian Airlines Flight ET-302 crashed on March 10 shortly after taking off from an Addis Ababa airport, killing all 157 onboard.

The model was also involved in an October 2018 crash outside of Jakarta, Indonesia. All 189 people on board Lion Air Flight JT610 were killed.

Many countries, including the US, Turkey, Russia and Iran, grounded the model over security concerns.

Decrease in orders

According to Eturbonews website, which provides global travel industry news, Boeing’s gross aircraft orders for 2019 slumped to an all-time low triggered largely by a decrease in orders for the 737 model.

Last year, Boeing received only 69 unit orders for the model, a steep drop of about 91.7 percent from the 837 orders received in 2018. TRUMP

Technical problems

A preliminary congressional report released earlier this month by the US House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure accused the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) of "failing its duty to identify key safety problems and to ensure that they were adequately addressed during the certification process," calling the agency's review "grossly insufficient". "The combination of these problems doomed the Lion Air and Ethiopian Airlines flights," said the investigative report.

Boeing has also been accused of lack of transparency. (Anadolu)