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INDONESIA IMPORTS OXYGEN AMID DEADLY SURGE WORLD / B2
VOL. XXXV • NO. 142 • 3 SECTIONS 12 PAGES • P18 WEDNESDAY, JULY 7, 2021 • www.manilastandard.net • mst.daydesk@gmail.com
Latest scare: Lambda variant New strain now in 30 countries, poses risk to elderly—vaccine expert A MOMENT BEFORE THE TRAGEDY. A screenshot
of a raw footage shows the ill-fated Philippine Air Force C-130 plane approaching the Jolo airport in Sulu on July 4, 2021, a few seconds before it overshot the runway and crashed, killing 53 soldiers and civilians.. Manila Standard Digital and FB post of Bogs Muhajiran
T
HE Lambda variant of the coronavirus (C.37) first detected in Peru, which has the worst per capita COVID-19 death rate in the world, is believed to be more transmissible and could drive surges in new infections and hospitalization, an infectious disease expert said Tuesday.
In an interview with CNN Philippines, Dr. Rontgene Solante, a member of the government’s vaccine experts panel, said there is no scientific data yet to show the variant is more deadly, but added that it can be a risk to elderly people or those with comorbidities. "If you talk about a variant that is highly transmissible, then that will be responsible for a surge of cases and hospitalizations. Most likely for those vulnerable, that can also be a higher risk of mortality," Solante said. Solente said the Lambda variant, which has already been found in 30 countries, may affect the efficacy rate and a person's reaction to antibody treatments. But Solante said COVID-19 vaccines remain effective against all COVID-19 variants in preventing severe illness and death. The World Health Organization (WHO) in June said this variant has been associated with "substantive rates of
Crash toll at 53; wounded soldier dies ANOTHER soldier, among those wounded from the C-130 crash in Jolo, Sulu last Sunday, has passed away, bringing the death toll to 53, Armed Forces chief Gen. Cirilito Sobejana said Tuesday. At least seven military person-
By Willie Casas, Vito Barcelo and Willie Casas
nel who died in the crash have been identified, Sobejana said. The latest fatality late Monday night succumbed to "chemical burns" on his face. Sobejana said some of the 46 Next page
Next page
Leachon warns: Too early to drop guard on fully-jabbed people Vaccine czar sees Sinovac delivery delay By Miguel Angelo Magbag, Vito Barcelo and Dave Leprozo
COVID-19 PH AT A GLANCE
(AS OF 4 PM JULY 6)
1,445,832 TOTAL NUMBER OF CASES
4,114 49,613 NEW
ACTIVE
25,296
104
1,370,923
6,086
DEATHS
RECOVERIES
A FORMER adviser to the National nated persons to travel without taking Dr. Tony Leachon said removing the testTask Force Against COVID-19 on Tues- a COVID-19 test, saying the move was ing requirement would further weaken day expressed concern over new govern- premature. the country’s weakest link, testing. ment guidelines that allow fully-vacciIn an interview on CNN Philippines, Next page
PRETTY DEADLY.
By Willie Casas and Joel E. Zurbano
A column of steam rises from the Taal Volcano on July 6, 2021. The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said the steam-rich plumes reached three kilometers high. Taal Volcano remains on Alert Level 3 due to continuous “magmatic unrest.” Rod Fernandez for PonD News Asia
NEW
NEW
Pacquiao gets a ‘left-handed’ compliment Romualdez sees SONA harping on gains By Vito Barcelo and Maricel V. Cruz THE Palace wished Senator Manny Pacquiao the “best of luck” in his fight with undefeated World Boxing Council and International Boxing Federation welterweight Errol Spence Jr. in August, but said his greatness did not go beyond the boxing ring. “Of course, we wish all Filipinos the best of luck in whatever they do best,” presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said in a press briefing in Pampanga. Roque then took a swipe at the Filipino boxing icon, saying “when it comes to Manny Pacquiao, he’s best in the boxing ring but probably not as good elsewhere.” Next page
By Maricel V. Cruz HOUSE Majority Leader and Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez expects President Rodrigo Duterte in his final State of the Nation Address (SONA) to present his achievements in the last five years of his administration and focus on continued recovery plans, delivery of basic services and government's healthcare programs to battle the COVID-19 pandemic. “There were so many great achievements of President Duterte and I expect
TAAL EMITS 3-KM HIGH WHITE PLUMES NEWS / A2
SUPPLY constraints will delay the delivery of the Sinovac COVID-19 vaccine next month, a health official said Tuesday. Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr., chief implementer of the National Task Force (NTF) Against COVID-19, said only 2.5 million out of the expected 6 million doses will be delivered in the third week of July. Galvez said the two-week delay would not affect the nationwide rollout of COVID-19 vaccines, which a World Health Organization (WHO) official described as “remarkable,” given the global shortage of vaccines. Sinovac has already delivered 6.5 million doses of its vaccine, more than the contracted supply of 4.5 million doses, in June alone. Next page
him to present these during his final SONA. I expect the President also to focus on the continued recovery plans and healthcare programs to fight the pandemic,” Romualdez, president of the LakasChristian Muslim Democrats, said in a radio interview. “Like his previous SONA, the speech of the President will be full of optimism and hope. I believe he will discuss the significant achievements of his administration in the fight against criminality, illegal Next page
HNP TEAMS UP WITH 5 MAJOR PARTIES NEWS / A4
GAMES WITH A HEART. Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office General Manager Royina Garma turns over a check to Andrea Bulaong, a representative of the Philippine National Railways, on July 6, 2021. The PCSO remitted P35.39 million to various government agencies and private institutions as part of its mandatory contributions. The Commission on Higher Education received the largest amount with P18.48 million, followed by the Philippine National Police with P15.79 million. “Let us patronize legal games, games with a heart. All earnings of the PCSO go to charity,” Garma said. Manny Palmero