News Report 15 April 2020 Local
1. DOH reports COVID-19 cases breach 5,000 mark, while 53 more people recover CNN Philippines, 15 April 2020
The Department of Health has recorded 291 new cases of the of COVID-19 in the Philippines, bringing the total to 5,223 as of Tuesday. Meanwhile, the death toll is now at 335, with a total of 295 recoveries.
2. Duterte calls for closer ASEAN solidarity, cooperation to combat COVID-19 Manila Bulletin, 15 April 2020, p. 1, continued on p. 5
President Rodrigo Roa Duterte joined other leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations during an online special ASEAN Summit to tackle the coronavirus disease (COVID-19). In the summit, President Duterte has called for the closer solidarity and cooperation among Southeast Asian nations, from improving healthcare capacity to ensuring food security, to combat the pandemic and mitigate its impact on the people.
3. Gov’t to buy P3.3 B virus test kits ASAP - Duterte The Philippine Star, 15 April 2020, p. 1, continued on p. 4
President Duterte has approved the immediate purchase of about P3.3 billion worth of polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based and rapid testing kits through the Office of Civil Defense (OCD), as the government embarks on the mass testing of people for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
4. COVID-19 cases may jump to 44,000 by end-April Business World, 15 April 2020, p. S1/9
Coronavirus infections could reach 9,000 to 44,000 by end-April, according to a team of experts from the University of the Philippines (UP). In their report, they said that this projection is better than without a lockdown for the entire Luzon island that started on March 17.
In their report, the UP experts said the COVID-19 virus had a fatality rate of 5.38% and a
reproduction number of 0.6398 in the Philippines, which means the lockdown had been effective in containing the pandemic.
Korea -
Economic
5. IMF sees flat PH growth in 2020 Manila Bulletin, 15 April 2020, p. B1
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has reduced its Philippine growth forecast from 6.3 percent to 0.6 percent for this year as economic activity is severely impacted by the health crisis. It is expected to recoup losses and post a recovery of 7.6 percent in 2021.
6. PEZA expects drop in investments amid pandemic Business World, 15 April 2020, p. S1/1, continued on p. S1/10
The Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) expects investments to drop this year due to the coronavirus pandemic. PEZA earlier projected a 5-10% growth in foreign investment pledges in 2020.
