Dispatchers the vital link

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

The demand for indemnification agreements by Covid-19 vaccine manufacturers is not related to the Dengvaxia controversy, the Department of Health (DoH) said. Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire, in the Laging Handa briefing on Saturday, clarified that all manufacturers required indemnification agreements, as Covid-19 vaccines are still under development. “The main reason is that all vaccine manufacturers all over the world require indemnification agreements because their products that we will use are still under development, “ Vergeire said in Filipino. Vaccination Czar Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. said in an earlier briefing that the vaccine manufacturers insisted on an indemnification agreement because they don’t want to suffer the same ordeal experienced by anti-dengue vaccine maker Sanofi whose executives were sued for deaths resulting in the use of their product Dengvaxia. Approved by then-President Benigno Aquino 3rd, the DoH in April 2016 launched the dengue ... » Learn More about DoH: Indemnity no link to Dengvaxia mess

MANILA, Philippines — Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto has lauded constituents who have received vaccines against the deadly COVID-19. But he fretted over those who may have shared “TMI” (read: too much information) to show proof: photos of butt vaccinations. On Monday, Sotto made a simple request for people to stop sending pictures of their buttocks after getting the coronavirus shot. In a live video, Sotto said he is happy to see people getting vaccinated against COVID-19, adding that he sees no problem with them sending him photos of their arms or shoulders to prove that they have received the jabs. But, he also said, there were instances when some people send him pictures of their tush as they were injected in that area for being ineligible to get the shot through their arms. “Nabanggit ko nga kanina may mga nagse-end sa akin ng picture pero alam niyo, nagpapasalamat ako doon ‘no.  (Pero) minsan kasi pagka may tattoo, bawal magpa-turok sa braso, hindi pwede sa tattoo site ‘yong ... » Learn More about Vico Sotto frets getting photos of ‘butt vaccination’ from Pasig dwellers

LONDON — Human traffickers across Europe have taken advantage of the coronavirus pandemic to exploit more vulnerable people, while efforts to bring them to justice and support their victims have been disrupted, a European human rights body said on Friday. COVID-19 restrictions and the economic fallout have worsened the outlook for victims of trafficking on the continent, who are less likely to be identified or able to access healthcare and shelter, according to a report by the Council of Europe (CoE). “The effects of the pandemic have made victims of human trafficking even more vulnerable,” said Helga Gayer, head of the council’s group of anti-trafficking experts – known as GRETA. “Traffickers have made the most of the situation, exploiting the precarious financial situation of many of their victims.” While there is no Europe-wide estimate, about 25 million people worldwide are trafficking victims – the United Nations says – with fears growing that more will be exploited as ... » Learn More about Traffickers seen thriving in Europe as COVID-19 hits victim support

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

ZURICH — Regeneron’s COVID-19 antibody cocktail helped cut the risk of symptomatic infections by 81% among people in households where another member had become ill, according to a statement on Monday from its manufacturing partner, Roche. “The subcutaneous administration of casirivimab and imdevimab reduced the risk of symptomatic infections by 81% in those who were not infected when they entered the trial,” Roche said. “In addition, individuals treated with casirivimab and imdevimab who still experienced a symptomatic infection resolved their symptoms on average within one week, compared to three weeks with placebo,” the company said. For more news about the novel coronavirus click here. What you need to know about Coronavirus. The Inquirer Foundation supports our healthcare frontliners and is still accepting cash donations to be deposited at Banco de Oro (BDO) current account #007960018860 or donate through PayMaya using this link . ... » Learn More about Regeneron’s COVID-19 cocktail helps prevent symptomatic disease—study

Naga Sadhus (Hindu holy men) take a holy dip in the waters of the Ganges River on the day of Shahi Snan (royal bath) during the ongoing religious Kumbh Mela festival, in Haridwar on April 12, 2021. (Photo by Money SHARMA / AFP) NEW DELHI — Hundreds of thousands of Hindu devotees flocked on Monday to take a holy bath in India’s Ganges river, even as the nation racked up the world’s highest tally of new daily coronavirus infections . With 168,912 new cases, India accounts for one in six of all new infections globally, although the figure is still well below the U.S. peak of nearly 300,000 new cases on Jan. 8. In the northern city of Haridwar, nearly a million devotees thronged the banks of the Ganges, a river many Hindus consider holy, to participate in the months-long ‘Kumbh Mela’ or pitcher festival. “The crowd here is surging…the police are continuously appealing to people to maintain social distancing,” police official Sanjay Gunjyal told Reuters at the site. By ... » Learn More about India’s daily coronavirus infections are world’s highest but crowds gather for festival

BACOLOD CITY –– Amid requests for a stricter quarantine status, Negros Occidental will remain under modified general community quarantine (MGCQ) until April 30. Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson said he was informed that Negros Occidental could not revert to general community quarantine (GCQ) because its COVID-19 infections had not reached the required level for that classification. Interior Undersecretary Epimaco Densing III relayed to him the message that the COVID-19 average daily attack rate should be seven percent and above, and the two-week daily growth rate should be 200 percent to be considered at high risk. Densing said Negros Occidental’s average daily attack rate as of April 8 was at 1.97 percent, and its two-week daily growth rate was 107 percent which was considered moderate. Lacson, however, pointed out that the COVID-19 situation in the province had been alarming and that the number of infections was rising. “Why do we have to wait for 200 percent (growth rate) or a ... » Learn More about Negros Occidental remains under MGCQ despite rising COVID-19 cases

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

SINGAPORE - Mr Lim Kay Choong, who has muscular dystrophy, feels that his employer's mindset on persons with disabilities has enabled him to integrate well into the work environment. The company is keen and willing to discuss and make arrangements for him, said Mr Lim. "Having a job gives me financial independence. This helps me gain confidence in other aspects of my life, as I can make my own decisions on whether I want to buy a laptop or go out with friends to a better restaurant. I earn my money and I am happy to spend it," said Mr Lim, 32, a research analyst. Mr Lim has been able to find work with four different organisations with support from the Muscular Dystrophy Association (Singapore) (MDAS). He has been with his current company for more than two years. He shared his experience during a dialogue session with President Halimah Yacob, who visited MDAS on Monday (April 12). Speaking to the media after the visit, Madam Halimah said there can be more support to encourage ... » Learn More about Adaptive tech subsidies could encourage employers to hire persons with disabilities: President Halimah