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HONG KONG BANS FLIGHTS FROM PH, 7 OTHER NATIONS TO CURB COVID SPREAD ASIAN financial hub Hong Kong banned flights from eight nations, including the Philippines, on Wednesday as part of strict new virus curbs, with Omicron outbreaks spiraling out of control from Europe to the United States. Aside from flights from the Philippines, those coming from Australia, Canada, France, India, Pakistan, Britain and the United States will also be banned for the next two weeks from midnight on Saturday. The new coronavirus variant is spreading rapidly across continents, leaving
governments rushing to roll out vaccine boosters and bolster healthcare systems as infection numbers reach new highs. Britain, the United States, France and Australia have all announced record case numbers in recent days, while China has imposed lockdowns in two cities and rolled out mass testing for millions as it doubles down on its "zero COVID" policy ahead of the Beijing Winter Olympics. Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam said the city was shuttering bars and gyms and canceling evening restaurant dining after
VOL. XXXV • NO. 325 • 3 SECTIONS 12 PAGES • P18 THURSDAY, JANUARY 6, 2022 • www.manilastandard.net • mst.daydesk@gmail.com
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New cases soar to 10,775
Daily infections seen at 20k next week as Omicron now in communities By Willie Casas
T
HE Philippines on Wednesday logged 10,775 new COVID-19 cases, nearly double from the previous day, data from the Department of Health (DOH) showed. The positivity rate climbed to 31.7 percent of the 44,643 people tested, up from 26.2 percent on Jan. 4. The rate was much higher than the under 5 percent deemed acceptable by the World Health Organi-
zation. A positivity rate of 5 percent or more indicates the transmission rate of the virus is high. Of the 10,775 reported cases, 10,688 (99 percent) occurred within the recent 14 days (De. 23 to Jan. 5, 2022). The top regions with cases in the recent two weeks were Metro Ma-
nila (National Capital Region) (7,420 or 69 percent), Region 4-A (Calabarzon) (1,719 or 16 percent) and Region 3 (Central Luzon) (798 or 7 percent). There were 58 new fatalities reported, bringing the COVID-19 death toll to 51,662. The DOH also reported 605 new recoveries, bringing the total recoveries to 2,780,109. There were 39,974, active cases, of which 1,294 are asymptomatic; 33,866 are mild; 2,983 are moderate; 1,512 are severe; and 319 are critical. Nationwide, 27 percent of ICU beds, 31 percent of isolation beds, 23 percent of ward beds, and 13 percent of ventilaNext page tors, were in use.
WHO warns Omicron may out more dangerous virus strains SOARING Omicron cases around the globe could increase the risk of a newer, more dangerous variant emerging, the World Health Organization in Europe warned on Tuesday (Wednesday Manila time). While the variant is spreading like wildfire around the world, it appears to be far less severe than initially feared and has raised hopes that the pandemic could be
overcome and life return to more normality. But WHO senior emergencies officer Catherine Smallwood sounded an ominous note of caution, telling AFP that the soaring infection rates could have the opposite effect. "The more Omicron spreads, the more it transmits and the more it replicates, the more likely it is to throw Next page
Church cancels ‘Traslacion,’ physical mass, other events By Vito Barcelo, Macon Ramos-Araneta, and Rey E. Requejo
NO MASS GATHERINGS ALLOWED.
Members of the Manila Police District stand in formation as they get instructions from their supervisor to monitor the strict observance of public health protocols in Plaza Miranda in Quiapo on January 5, 2022. Around 16 areas in Metro Manila have been put under granular lockdown due to the resurgence of COVID-19 cases. Norman Cruz
THE annual procession for the Feast of the Black Nazarene, otherwise known as Traslacion, will be suspended this year after President Rodrigo Duterte appealed to the Catholic Church to forgo mass gatherings related to the religious feast to avoid becoming a Next page COVID-19 super spreader event.
DOH tags PH ‘high risk’ with NCR as epicenter Nationwide
2,871,745 10,775
39,974
51,662
58
2,780,109
605
By Willie Casas, Joel E. Zurbano, Rey E. Requejo, Vito Barcelo and Darwin G. Amojelar
HEALTH Secretary Francisco Duque III said on Tuesday night the Philippines was already at high risk from COVID-19 amid a surge in infections. The steady increase in cases prompted the government to place Laguna un-
der Alert Level 3 beginning Friday, Jan. 7, until January 15, acting presidential spokesperson Karlo Nograles said in a statement. Laguna joins neighboring provinces
By Rio N. Araja and Willie Casas HEALTH officials have recommended to the President that mobility restrictions on unvaccinated people be applied nationwide, following Metro Manila’s lead. During President Duterte’s Talk to the People on Tuesday night, Presidential Adviser for COVID-19 Response Vivencio Dizon said he, along with Health Secretary Francisco Duque III and National
(As of 4 PM, JANUARY 5)
Palace backs Obiena, hopes row is settled MALACAÑANG has expressed support for Filipino Olympian EJ Obiena amid the recommendation of the Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association's (PATAFA) to have him expelled from the national team for alleged estafa for his failure to pay his coach. Next page
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restriction for unvaxxed up
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BEFORE AND AFTER. Bargain hunters are noticeably few along Ilaya in Divisoria, Manila after the National Capital Region and neighboring provinces Cavite, Bulacan and Rizal were placed under Alert Level 3 until January 15, 2022 to stem the surge in COVID-19 cases, which experts say is likely fueled by the more transmissible Omicron variant. Inset photo shows that same street filled with shoppers last week ahead of New Year’s Eve. Norman Cruz