Dispatchers test

QUEZON City has partnered with the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) and private diagnostics clinic Hi-Precision to further increase the city’s capacity to test residents for Covid-19. “Our partnerships will allow us to pool all available resources, weave our efforts and immediately address the needs of our most affected communities,” Mayor Josefina “Joy” Belmonte said. The PRC pledged to allocate 8,000 RT-PCR (reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction) test kits to the city worth around P3,400 each. Belmonte said this would allow the city government to test more residents and subsequently reinforce its contact tracing efforts. “With the current direct partnership, results are expected to be released at a faster turnaround time,” she added. According to the city’s Public Affairs and Information Services Department, the city plans to open three additional testing centers. The existing community-based testing centers are in Toro Hill Basketball Court (District 1), Payatas ... » Learn More about QC expands Covid-19 testing

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Jailed Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny has tested negative for the coronavirus, his lawyer Olga Mikhailova said on Wednesday, adding that he has taken a second test. Navalny, 44, an opponent of President Vladimir Putin, announced that he going on a hunger strike last week in protest at what he said was the refusal of prison authorities to treat him properly for acute back and leg pain. Human rights group Amnesty International earlier on Wednesday said Navalny had been incarcerated in conditions that amount to torture and may slowly be killing him. (Reporting by Polina Nikolskaya; Writing by Alexander Marrow; Editing by Hugh Lawson) ... » Learn More about Jailed Kremlin critic Navalny tests negative for coronavirus, says lawyer

BACOLOD CITY—More government offices and health facilities in Negros Occidental are going on lockdown as COVID-19 cases continued to surge in the province. Mayor Neil Lizares said the new Talisay City Hall would be closed on Monday (April 12) and Tuesday (April 13) while contact tracing and disinfection are underway. An employee assigned to the Talisay City Public Market tested positive for SARS Cov2, the coronavirus that causes COVID-19, and contact tracing showed that the person had gone to the Talisay City Hall. Mayor Rogelio Raymund Tongson, who tested positive for SARS Cov2, also ordered the lockdown of the Himamaylan City Hall, the city healtho office and village health centers for seven days starting last Saturday (April 10) to prevent coronavirus transmission. Mayor Rhumyla Nicor Mangilimutan said the La Castellana municipal hall will be closed from Monday (April 12) to Wednesday (April 14) for disinfection as government employees were instructed to work from home after ... » Learn More about Coronavirus infections continue to spread in Negros Occidental

President Rodrigo Duterte resumes his Monday briefing after two weeks away from public view (Screengrab from a video posted on the RTVM Facebook page) MANILA, Philippines — “Would I last long? Let’s be frank here. Will I last long in this [CURSING] post if I’m inutile? Would the military allow me to govern if that’s how I run things — without me doing anything?” President Rodrigo Duterte said this, speaking in Filipino, in his pre-recorded press briefing on Monday, directing the statement at his critics, particularly members of the opposition who questioned his absence from the public eye for almost two weeks while the country was grappling with a COVID-19 surge. [Original statement: “Tatagal kaya ako? Ito prankahan tayo: Tatagal kaya ako dito sa p*tang in*ng pwesto na ito kung inutil ako? Would the military allow me to govern [nang] gano’n ang pamamalakad mo?  Wala kang ginawa?”] As of Monday, the Philippines recorded over 150,000 active COVID-19 cases, even as Metro Manila, ... » Learn More about Would the military allow me to stay this long if I’m inutile? – Duterte

MANILA, Philippines — Strict quarantine rules in Metro Manila and the neighboring provinces of Laguna, Bulacan, Cavite and Rizal will be eased slightly starting Monday up to April 30 as hospitals have committed themselves to provide more beds for patients with the new coronavirus disease (COVID-19), presidential spokesperson Harry Roque announced on Sunday. President Rodrigo Duterte approved the less stringent modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) for Metro Manila and the four provinces — dubbed “National Capital Region (NCR) Plus” — from the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ), even as COVID-19 cases continued to rise and swamp hospitals. Total detected cases surged to 864,868 after laboratory tests confirmed 11,681 new infections on Sunday, the third straight day of breaching the 10,000 mark, according to the Department of Health (DOH). The death toll climbed to 14,945 after 201 more fatalities were reported. More than 200 deaths had been reported daily in five of the ... » Learn More about Quarantine restrictions eased in Metro Manila, 4 adjacent provinces

More and more Spotify users listen to podcasts on the streaming platform. Image: GaudiLab/IStock.com via AFP Relaxnews Spotify announced that 21% of its active users (free or premium) listened to podcasts during the second quarter of the year. Podcast consultations grew by 5 points in only 6 months. Isolation linked to lockdowns implemented due to the covid-19 pandemic may explain this surge on the audio streaming platform. While they had to stay home for several months, internet users had more time to look for new types of content, especially new kinds of podcasts. Spotify also put its new content in the spotlight on its platform, highlighting its educational, informative and entertaining podcasts. This may have also contributed to augmenting its podcast listening base compared to its musical audience. In May 2020, 15% of worldwide users acknowledged listening to more podcasts than before lockdown. Over 31% of US users, mostly Millennials, also contributed to this increase. ... » Learn More about 1 Spotify user out of 5 listens to podcasts

Are you looking for the iPhone XS price and the cost of other previous models? You’re not alone, as more people are buying secondhand devices during the pandemic. Apple fans can check out a list of refurbished gadgets with significant discounts. You’ll find iPhone XS and XS Max along with other Apple goodies at lower prices. Before you buy an iPhone XS, you should check out its features. Check its original price and its much lower refurbished price this year. If you have the iPhone 12 already, getting this older model might not be a good decision. Otherwise, this is a great time to get an Apple smartphone for much cheaper! Most people know Apple products for their super high prices, so they grab Android phones instead. Thankfully, you can buy secondhand phones from their website. As you’ll soon find out, the iPhone XS beats the latest models in some ways. You could get an iPhone that’s like the iPhone 12, but for much less! Isn’t the iPhone XS a previous model? The Apple ... » Learn More about The iPhone XS price in 2021

You will soon be able to try your luck in the ‘Big Brother’ program through a new video game, designed by 9th Impact. Image: courtesy of Big Brother Game via AFP Relaxnews Philippines, Brazil, Canada, France, Tanzania, Uganda, Russia… After having been exported all over the world, the “Big Brother” franchise is now heading into the virtual realm as a video game adaptation is on the horizon. “Big Brother: The Game” offers gamers from all over the world the chance to become one of the contestants of the famous isolation-themed reality show, and win a mysterious grand prize. According to British developer 9th Impact, video game enthusiasts will be able to choose whether to activate the “Spectator” or “Housemate” game mode to play “Big Brother: The Game”. In the latter case, gamers will be able to get a glimpse of community life and will be faced with several strategic choices to avoid being eliminated by the other candidates. While “Big Brother: The Game” will be available for ... » Learn More about 20 years after debut, reality TV program ‘Big Brother’ is getting a video game

SINGAPORE - Covid-19 vaccines protect people from the symptoms and more severe forms of the disease but are not designed to fully prevent them from being infected, experts said yesterday, following the case of a migrant worker who tested positive despite having both doses. They said inoculation was vital because although those who have had the jabs may still catch the virus, they are much less likely to get seriously ill than unvaccinated patients. The migrant worker, who was reported on Sunday (April 11) to have tested positive, received his first dose on Jan 25 and his second on Feb 15, the Health Ministry said. Finding someone who records a positive polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test result does not mean a failure of the vaccine, said Professor Ooi Eng Eong from the Duke-NUS Medical School, who is also developing a self-replicating mRNA vaccine with Arcturus Therapeutics. The primary goal of vaccination is to prevent the Covid-19 disease, not infection, Prof Ooi said. ... » Learn More about Covid-19 vaccines are vital but aren’t designed to fully prevent infection, say experts

MELAKA: Melaka police arrested two women who are on the wanted list for cheating, criminal intimidation and drug offences in separate raids in Alor Gajah here. State Narcotics chief Supt Zulkiflee Rashid said in the first arrest, a 28-year-old woman who is wanted for cheating and criminal intimidation, was nabbed along with her husband and cousin. He said the three suspects, who tested positive for drugs, were found in a hotel room in Alor Gajah at 2.50pm on Sunday (April 11). “All three work as car salespersons and the wanted woman has three previous criminal records, while her husband and her 21-year-old cousin each have one prior drug offence," Supt Zulkiflee said on Monday (April 12). He said his men also confiscated syabu from the suspects during the raid. In the second raid, conducted on the same day, a 26-year-old woman with five previous drug offences was detained. Supt Zulkiflee said the woman, who was caught at Pulau Sebang near the Negri Sembilan border, also ... » Learn More about Melaka cops nab two women on wanted list in separate raids, seize syabu from suspects