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Covid-19...

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At the same time, the government barred travellers from India, including returning Filipinos, as that country is overwhelmed by record daily infections and deaths in the thousands, including some Filipinos, and adopted other measures to prevent the spread of the virus.

At press time, the Department of Health reported that the country logged 6,895 new Covid-19 infections, bringing the total case count to 1,020,495 since the pandemic started in March last year.

The DOH also reported 935,695 recoveries or 91.69 percent of the total cases, 67,769 active cases, and 17,031 deaths.

Duterte apologized to the public for extending the more restrictive modifi ed enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) in the National Capital Region (NCR) Plus until May 14.

Duterte said he has no choice but heed the medical professionals’ advice, considering that the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) infections continue to rise in the country.

The DOH said of the active cases, about 95.4 percent are mild, 1.4 percent are asymptomatic, 1.3 percent are severe, 0.87 are moderate, and 1.0 percent are in critical condition.

Currently, 64 percent of 1,900 intensive care unit beds, 47 percent of 13,500 isolation beds, 52 percent of 6,000 ward beds, and 45 percent of 2,000 ventilators nationwide are utilized by patients with Covid-19.

Meanwhile, 71 percent of 800 intensive care unit beds, 57 percent of 3,800 isolation beds, 64 percent of 2,200 ward beds, and 58 percent of 800 ventilators dedicated to patients with Covid-19 are in use in the National Capital Region.

The government remined the public to stay at home and to observe minimum health standards when going out.

The DOH urged those experiencing Covid-19 symptoms to immediately isolate and contact the Barangay Health Emergency Response Teams or One Hospital Command.

Meanwhile, Brazil is on the verge of registering 400,000 coronavirus deaths this week, after the Health Ministry reported 3,163 new COVID-19 deaths in 24 hours, bringing the offi cial death toll to 398,185.

Brazil is quickly catching up with the world’s worst death toll in the United States, which has seen more than 570,000 casualties in total but less than a thousand deaths per day in recent weeks, according to reports.

The ban on entry of travelers from India or with travel history to India in the last 14 days to prevent the transmission of a “double mutant” coronavirus strain. “All travelers coming from India or those with travel history to India within the last 14 days preceding arrival shall be prohibited from entering the Philippines beginning 0001H of April 29, 2021, until May 14, 2021,” Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said.

Roque said restrictions to travelers coming from other countries that report the new strain may be imposed by the Offi ce of the President upon the joint recommendation of the Department of Health (DOH) and the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA).

Currently, foreigners, except diplomats and healthcare workers, are still barred from entering the Philippines.

Foreign parents, spouses, and children of Filipinos may enter the country, provided they are traveling with the Filipino principal, and have a valid entry.

Philippine Ambassador in New Delhi Ramon Bagatsing Jr., in a virtual presser, said the Covid-19 situation in India is “very serious”.

Bagatsing said two Filipinos of managerial positions died due to Covid.

At least 20 other Filipinos living in India have been infected with COVID. They are currently isolated and would communicate with embassy offi cials through social media.

“It’s really bad here. But aside from this unfortunate circumstance more or less most of them are fi ne; Filipinos are helping each other here,” Bagatsing said.

India’s Covid-19 tally rose to 17,636,307 with 323,144 new cases recorded in the past 24 hours, said the federal health ministry.

According to xinhuatnet.com report, it was the sixth consecutive day when over 300,000 cases were registered in a single day in India, though there was a fall of nearly 30,000 new cases in a day compared to those reported on Monday.

The federal health ministry also reported that 2,771 deaths took place in the past 24 hours, taking the total death toll to 197,894.

There are still a total of 2,882,204 active cases in the country, with an increase of 68,546 active cases through Monday, while 14,556,209 people have been cured and discharged from hospitals so far across the country.

How do the approved vaccine options compare?

The three current COVID-19 vaccines approved for use in the U.S. are Pfizer-BioNtech, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson.

How effective are they?

All three vaccines more than meet the 50 percent e ectiveness threshold required by the FDA.

How many shots?

Potential side eff ects

Pfizer-BioNTech Moderna

Two shots are required, 21 days apart. Two shots are required, 28 days apart.

Pain at injection site, tiredness, headache, muscle pain, joint pain, chills and fever Pain at injection site, tiredness, headache, muscle pain, joint pain and chills Pain at injection site, headache, fatigue and muscle pain

Johnson & Johnson

One shot required.

AARP is ghting to protect the health of Asian Americans & Paci c Islanders 50+ and their families by providing trusted information and resources surrounding COVID-19.

Learn more about COVID-19 vaccination at aarp.org/vaccineinfo