NCR Plus lockdown extended as 12,276 new coronavirus cases reported

By The SUN 

ECQ lockdown in Metro Manila, 4 provinces extended to Apr 11 (Inquirer photo)

Metro Manila and its four adjacent provinces – Bulacan, Rizal, Cavite and Laguna – will remain under lockdown for at least another week under the government’s enhanced community quarantine scheme which is supposed to end Sunday, Apr. 4.

According to Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque, the quarantine restrictions in the area designated as “NCR (National Capital Region) Plus” will now last until Apr 11.

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“Nagrekomenda po ang inyong IATF na pahabain pa ang ECQ ng minimum na isang linggo sa buong Metro Manila at mga probinsya ng Laguna, Bulacan, Cavite at Rizal,” Roque said over the government-run PTV 4. (IATF has recommended extending the ECQ for a minimum of one week in Metro Manila and provinces of Laguna, Bulacan, Cavite and Rizal.)

Roque also said that President Rodrigo Duterte has approved the extension of the ECQ.

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He made the announcement as the Philippines’ active coronavirus cases roses to a record high 165,715 with 12,276 new infections being recorded Saturday.

The additional cases brought the country’s total tally to 784,403. This was despite seven laboratories failing to submit their data on time.

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However, most or 96.5 percent of the confirmed patients only have mild symptoms, 2.2 percent are asymptomatic, 0.5 percent are severe and 0.30 percent are moderate.

According to Roque government will intensify its program of detecting and isolating patients during the extended lockdown.

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“Kinakailangang paigtingin po yung ating tinatawag na PDITR o yung ating prevention, detection, isolation, tracing at reintegration at dahil dito po, nirereequire po natin ngayon na magkaron ng daily monitoring ang lokal na pamahalaan, ang ating mga NTF czars para po malaman natin kung ano ang resulta ng pinaigting na PDITR,” he said. (We need to intensify what we call PDITR and because of this, we are requiring our local government and NTF czars to do a daily monitoring to see the results of the intensified PDITR.)

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As part of this strategy, officials will reportedly go door to door to locate those infected and subject them to testing and isolation if necessary.

Nearly all hospitals in Metro Manila have run out of beds for Covid-19 patients (Inquirer)

Meanwhile, the continuing surge in infections has led to most hospitals in Metro Manila running out of space for Covid-19 patients. News reports show sick patients being turned away from hospitals because of lack of space.

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At hospitals like the Lung Center of the Philippines in Quezon City which has been designated as a Covid-19 treatment facility, dozens of vehicles are lined up outside, all waiting for the chance to get their sick passengers admitted.

The spillover from the capital has reportedly affected hospitals in provinces hundreds of  kilometers away like Batangas, where health officials are planning to set up tents for patients waiting for admission.

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There is also a plan to convert the Southern Tagalog Regional Hospital in Bacoor City, Cavite, to cater exclusively to Covid-19 patients. 

In response to the emergency,  Malacanang said 110 beds will be set up at Quezon Institute in Quezozn City for Covid-19 patients with moderate to severe symptoms.

At least one hospital, the National Orthopedic Center in Quezon City, has also been hit with a cluster of cases, with 117 of its health care personnel coming down with the virus.

The hospital has stopped its face-to-face outpatient services as a result, but says it will continue accepting emergency cases.

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2 Covid-19 cases reported today, including Filipina DH with variant

By The SUN 

The Filipina tested positive while in quarantine at Ramada Harbour View Hotel

A Filipina domestic helper who tested positive for Covid-19 and was found to carry the N501Y variant is one of two confirmed cases reported today, Apr 3.

The other is a 5-year-old boy who is a family member of a patient who tested positive earlier. They live in a Tseung Kwan O village house.

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According to a staff of the Centre for Health Protection, the 36-year-old Filipina tested positive on her second sample while quarantined at the Ramada Harbour View Hotel in Sai Ying Pun. She arrived in Hong Kong on board Cebu Pacific Flight 5J272 on Mar 20.

She was the 41^st Filipino to test positive shortly after arriving in Hong Kong for the past 15 days.

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Hong Kong now has a total tally of 11,502 Covid-19 cases so far.

In the past 14 days, a total of 136 cases had been recorded, of which 45 are local cases, including 12 whose sources are unknown.

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Contact tracing on the confirmed cases are ongoing. For case details and contact tracing information, check the Covid-19 Thematic Website (www.coronavirus.gov.hk).

Everyone who had visited specified venues under the Prevention and Control of Disease Regulation (Cap 599J) must receive Covid-19 nucleic acid testing. All household members of close contacts of confirmed cases must also undergo testing within a specified period.

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Anyone who develops symptoms is urged to seek medical attention early and undergo testing as soon as possible.

The government’s vaccination program is ongoing, and the public may choose between two vaccines, one from mainland company Sinovac, and the other from German pharmaceutical company BioNTech. Details of the programme, including how to book an appointment for the vaccine can be found at the designated website (www.covidvaccine.gov.hk).

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In the meantime, the CHP calls on the public to avoid going out and socializing, including dining out, especially during the long holiday season. If they need to go out, they should wear a mask and maintain strict personal hygiene.

Despite the advisory, various media reports say people have come out in droves to have fun at newly reopened beaches and swimming pools.

People flocked to beaches today, despite CHP's warning to avoid crowds

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The CHP strongly urged the elderly to stay home as far as possible and avoid going out. They should consider asking their family and friends to help with everyday tasks such as shopping for basic necessities.

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Non-essential travel outside is also discouraged. “Given that the situation of COVID-19 infection remains severe and that there is a continuous increase in the number of cases reported around the world, members of the public are strongly urged to avoid all non-essential travel outside Hong Kong," said the statement.

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SCC Divas bags 2 championships; eyes top division slot

By Vir B. Lumicao 

Divas players celebrate their victory over Lantau ladies on Mar 28

Filipina team SCC Divas are back-to-back champions in this season’s shortened Hong Kong cricket Women’s Development League and Women’s T20 Division 2 League after winning all their matches in the two campaigns.

Barring a defeat in an upcoming duel for promotion to T20 Division 1, the all-domestic-helper team will be playing in that division next season, said Divas captain Josie Arimas after her team crushed Lantau Ladies to top the Division 2 league on Mar 28.

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 “Meron pa kaming laro na last play-off laban sa loser ng Division 1 pero wala pang date. Kung mananalo kami sa game, level up kami sa Division,” said Arimas.

(We’ll have a last play-off against the loser in the Division 1, but we still have no date. If we win the game, we’ll level up to the division.)

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She said Divas is lined up to face the bottom dweller in that group for the last slot.

Arimas defends the Divas wicket in their WDL championship match

Divas captured the WDL championship match on Mar 21 with a 28-run victory over the USRC Women’s. Divas scored 253/4 against USRCW’s 225/3 in 16 overs at the Po Kong Village Road Recreation Ground.

Fresh from that win, Divas scored 166/6 in 20 overs for a 101-run hammering of Lantau Ladies, who could only produce 65/10 in 14 overs, as the Filipinas captured the T20 Division 2 championship also at PKVR.

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The back-to-back victories gave SCC Divas four consecutive years of unbeaten record in the WDL since joining the league in the 2017-2018 season.

When the 2020-2021 season began last Oct 18, Divas made 234 runs with the loss of 2 wickets to crush HKCC Diamonds, who made 106 runs but lost 8 wickets.

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Divas made a double on Nov 15 with a 288/3 win over KCC Young Maidens, who had 224/4 in a 9am duel. The Filipinas followed through with a 257/6 trashing of Lantau Ladies, who were behind by 64 runs with 193 at the cost of all its 10 wickets.

All league matches were cancelled in January to mid-February due to Covid-19.

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When WDL and T20 league matches resumed in late February, Divas reasserted its dominance with a 300/1 win over Lantau Ladies, who made 175/7, in Game 2. Earlier that Sunday, Divas also carved out a 33-run triumph over Craigengower, 261/5 vs 228/3. 

Early on, Divas was cruising to a glorious finish in 2019-2020 with a no-defeat slate when the pandemic played havoc on sports. As a result, the season closed prematurely with no winner announced in the league.

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Arimas said the Filipinas felt shortchanged, but they took that in stride as their leading the league is itself a record in Hong Kong women’s cricket.

The Divas repeated their WDL feat in the T20 Division 2 campaign versus Lantau Ladies for championship.

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On Feb 28, Divas overpowered India Club by 194 runs with a 214/2 versus 20/9 to start their campaign in the T20 Division 2. The Filipinas pounded USRCW with 182/5 versus 79/4 on Mar 5 to set up their championhip duel with the Lantau Ladies.

Jennifer Alumbro scored 25 runs and captured 3 wickets to win the season’s Most Valuable Player award. Her teammate Iris Mae Meru scored 54 runs batting.

Lolita Olaquier made 13 runs and took 3 wickets. Christine Joy Lovino had 4 runs and 2 wickets while Romela Osabel added 2 runs and 1 wicket. Jonna Eguid added 8 runs.

The Lantau Ladies only produced 65 runs and lost the T20 duel.

When the game ended, the Divas erupted in cheers as they savored the joy of capturing their second championship in a row.

The year-old SCC Pinay, a spin-off team from the Divas’ 34-player stable, logged spectacular wins in its WDL campaign until they lost their final match, Arimas said.  

“Maganda rin ang performance ng SCC Pinay. Nanalo din sila sa Plate noong intact ang line-up. Pero ipinasok namin ang new players para maka-experience sila sa field, so natalo sila sa final,” she said.

(SCC Pinay also performed well. They also won in the Plate when the line-up was intact. But we deployed new players to give them field experience, so they lost in the final.)

Arimas said the current season ends after the play-off for the T20 Division 1 slot.

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Ban on Manila arrivals raised as 6 more Filipina DHs found infected

By Daisy CL Mandap 

40 travelers from the PHL were found infected in HK in the past 14 days

Local media representatives have asked Hong Kong health officials if they are thinking of imposing a travel ban on the Philippines, as six more new arrivals from Manila were included in today’s daily Covid-19 tally.

Dr Chuang Shuk-kwan of the Centre for Health Protection reported 19 new coronavirus cases today, seven of which were locally acquired, and the remaining 12 all imported.

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Of the 12 imported infections, Chuang said six involved foreign domestic helpers from the Philippines, who were all also found to carry the highly infectious coronavirus variant.

Two, aged 29 and 31, arrived on Mar 31 aboard Cathay Pacific flight CX906, and tested positive at the airport. 

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The four others, aged 29, 31 44 and 61, were found infected on their 12^th day in hotel quarantine. Two flew in aboard Philippine Airlines flight PR300 and the two others on Cebu Pacific flight 5J272.

Asked about a possible travel ban on the Philippines, similar to the one still currently enforced on the United Kingdom, Chuang admitted the most number of patients found to have the mutated virus, generally categorized as N501Y, had all flown in from Manila.

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But, she said, “There are other factors to consider.”

Chuang says enough measures are in place to stop the variant from spreading

Chuang also said Hong Kong has stringent control measures, like the 21-day hotel quarantine, as well as a negative test result required from all travelers coming from high-risk countries like the Philippines. She also said the highly-feared mutated virus has not been seen in any local case.

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The ban query was raised after the UK announced that it would stop all non-residents flying in from the Philippines starting on Apr 9. Ireland also included the Philippines among the countries where travelers would need to spend their 14-day quarantine in a hotel starting Apr 6.

Data supplied by the CHP in its daily briefings show that in the past two weeks alone, or from Mar 20 to Apr 2, a total of 40 Filipinos had tested positive on, or shortly after arriving in Hong Kong. All except three were found to have the coronavirus variant.

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The biggest number recorded in a single day was 9, which happened on Mar 22. Today’s 6 comes next, followed by the 5 reported on Mar 29.

On Mar 15, another 9 cases were also reported, 5 of them flying in on the same day via CX, which prompted Hong Kong authorities to ban Cathay’s flight from Manila for two weeks.

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Meanwhile, one other imported case, a 39-year-old male traveler from Pakistan who tested positive on his 12^th day in quarantine, was found to carry the virus variant.

The other imported cases included a 5-month-old baby girl who was confirmed to have the coronavirus  on her 19^th day in quarantine. Chuang said previous samples taken from her were not sufficient for testing.

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The four remaining imported cases include two FDHs from Indonesia, and one returning resident each from Botswana and Canada.

Of the seven local infections, the sole untraceable case has prompted health authorities to order compulsory testing on Metro City mall in Tseung Kwan O.

This was after investigations showed that the 33-year-old unemployed patient who lives in a TKO village house had bought takeaway food from several restaurants in the mall. A renovation worker who worked and ate in the mall was earlier confirmed to have the virus.

About a dozen people the later patient had played football with will be sent to quarantine.

Chuang said there are several preliminary positive cases, but so far, not a single one was untraceable.

Hong Kong’s total Covid-19 tally as of today is 11,500. As of 9am today, 123 confirmed patients are still being treated in public hospitals. Among them, 3 are in critical condition, 3 are serious, and the remaining 117 are stable.

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New daily high of 15,310 Covid-19 cases posted in Philippines

By The SUN 

Empty pews in a Phl church attest to the new surge in infections (AP photo)

Good Friday was an extra sad day for the predominantly Catholic Philippines, as the country posted a record 15,310 new Covid-19 cases today, Apr 2, bringing the total number of infections to 771,497.

The unprecedented figure was posted on the fifth day of an extreme lockdown imposed on Metro Manila and the four adjacent provinces of Bulacan, Rizal, Cavite and Laguna.

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Officials from the Department of Health said 3,709 of today’s cases are backlogs from Mar 31 due to uploading issues, which explained the unusually low tally of 6,128 for that day.

But today’s remaining 11,601 still make up the biggest daily tally since the pandemic broke out in the country early last year.

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The new surge pushed the total number of active cases to 153,809, representing 19.9% of all infections.

But there were 434 new recoveries, raising the total to 604,368.

Another 17 people succumbed to Covid-19 today, pushing the death toll to 13,320.

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The record rises in infections, coupled with the increasing number of patients found with the highly infections coronavirus variant, has caused at least two countries to restrict the entry of people flying in from the Philippines.

In Hong Kong where the recent daily tally of imported cases always included at least one new arrival from the Philippines who invariably also had the mutated virus, there is a growing clamor to halt travel from the country.

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But health officials said Friday that the strict 21-day quarantine for all new arrivals from abroad (except from Singapore, Japan, Korea, Taiwan, Macau and the rest of China) will suffice for now.

UK will ban all non-residents flying in from the Philippines starting Apr 9

In Britain, the government just added the Philippines to its travel “red list”, along with Pakistan, Kenya and Bangladesh. The inclusion means that travelers from these countries, except British or Irish nationals and residents, will now be denied entry.

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Visitors who have departed of transited through the countries in the last 10 days will be banned entry starting at 4am, U.K. time, on Apr 9.

Exempted passengers who are allowed to enter the U.K. will be required to submit to coronavirus testing on or before the second day of their quarantine, and again on or after the eighth day.

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“[T]hey will not be allowed to shorten their quarantine period on receipt of a negative test result. They will also not be able to end their managed quarantine early through the Test to Release scheme,” an advisory from the British government said.

In Ireland, the Philippines was included among 26 countries that will be subjected to mandatory hotel quarantine on arrival starting 4 am on Apr 6, the only Asian state to be included in the list.

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Travelers from these countries will have to show a hotel booking for their 14-day quarantine, on top of a negative result for a Covid-19 test conducted 72 hours before their flight.

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