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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider MB Daily News Update

MB Daily News Update

Published Mar 23, 2021 07:30 am

Authorities are scrambling to contain the surge of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), which was propelled to an all-time high daily record of 8,019 on Monday, March 22, 2021.

And efforts to stymie this surge are hinged on the National Capital Region (NCR)-plus Bubble, or the general community quarantine (GCQ) lockdown, that is now on in full force.

These and other developments on the West Philippine Sea, preparedness for the summer months, and the new Supreme Court Chief Justice aspirants are on your Tuesday, March 23, 2021, roster of news reports.

  1. President Duterte puts his foot down against any lockdown
  • Metro Manila is, indeed, epicenter of recent COVID-19 surge
  • World Health Organization (WHO) official says arrival of vaccines may have given people false sense of protection from COVID-19
  • Please make available more beds, DOH appeals to hospitals
  • Many returning overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) are being made to wait too long for the results of their COVID-19 tests
  • People will still be able to go work under the NCR-plus Lockdown, thus, there would be no need for cash aid for displaced workers
  • DOH issues warning against Ivermectin as treatment for COVID-19
  • West PH Sea tension:

“That’s what friends are for,” Presidential spokesman Harry Roque says as he expressed confidence that latest maritime incidence won’t escalate into a standoff

China embassy statement: Alleged intrusion is a case of fishing vessels taking shelter in the area due to “rough sea condition”  

  • Some good news heading into the dry season. Angat and La Mesa Dams will have enough water for Metro Manila, and parts of Bulacan, Rizal, and Laguna
  1. Three Supreme Court Associate Justices in shortlist submitted to Malacanang to replace Chief Justice Diosdado Peralta
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