PH Coronavirus Updates

· 7,958 have tested positive for COVID-19 in the Philippines, 530 who died, and 975 who recovered 

· 1,604 Filipinos abroad who have tested positive, 189who died, 996 undergoing treatment, and 419 who recovered 

1,366 medical frontliners have tested positive: 493doctors, 507 nurses, 74 nursing assistants, 47medical technologists, and 28 radiologic technologists, 11 midwives, 11 respiratory therapists, 165 “other healthcare workers,” such as dentists, barangay health workers, and administrative aides. Of these frontliners, 29 have died,  22 of them doctors (See Rappler for longer story).

Taiwan Refuses to Deport OFW Critical of Duterte

Elanel Egot Ordidor

Taiwan has rejected the Philippine Department of Labor and Employment’s (DOLE) moves to deport an overseas Filipino worker over social media posts critical of President Rodrigo Duterte, saying the Philippines must first consult with Taiwan before taking any drastic action (See Rappler for story).

Duterte Threatens Martial Law if Reds Disrupt Relief Efforts

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte threatened to declare martial law if communist rebels disrupted the flow of relief goods for Filipinos impacted by the coronavirus lockdown restrictions, and asked his military to be ready (See Yahoo News for story).

400,000 OFWs Expected to Lose Jobs Due to Covid-19

A research paper by Ateneo de Manila University projected recently that about 300,000 to 400,000 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) could be affected by layoffs and salary cuts due to the expected shutdown of offices abroad brought about by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) (See Philstar.com for story).

PH Files 2 Diplomatic Protests Over China's Moves in W. PH Sea

The Philippines has lodged two diplomatic protests against China’s aggression in the West Philippine Sea, accusing China of violating international law and Philippine sovereignty (See Inquirer.net for story).

COVID-19 Infects 31 More Filipinos Abroad, Total Now 868

An additional 31 Filipinos overseas were found positive for the new virus SARS-CoV-2, bringing the total count to 868, the Department of Foreign Affairs said Saturday (See Inquirer.net for story).

PH 'Dead Last' in Safety in Asia Pacific During Pandemic

The Philippines is dead last on a list of countries in Asia Pacific considered the safest during the coronavirus pandemic, according to an evaluation by a Hong Kong-based venture capital firm (See MSN.com for story). 

Duterte Volunteers PH for Clinical Trials of Potential COVID-19 Vaccines

President Rodrigo Duterte told Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe at Tuesday night's Special ASEAN Summit that the Philippines was ready to participate in clinical trials of a Japan-made drug, Avigan, as a possible novel coronavirus (COVID-19) treatment (See Philstar.com for story).