News Report 22 April 2020 Local
1. 41 more patients recover from COVID-19 as cases rise to 6,599 CNN Philippines, 22 April 2020
The Department of Health has recorded 140 new cases of the of COVID-19 in the Philippines, bringing the total to 6,599 as of Tuesday. Meanwhile, the death toll is now at 437, with a total of 654 recoveries.
2. No total lockdown; Rody decides on ECQ tomorrow The Philippine Star, 22 April 2020, p. 1, continued on p. 4
Presidential spokesman Harry Roque said yesterday said a total lockdown was not among the preferred scenarios raised by health experts specifically former secretaries of the Department of Health (DOH) during their meeting with President Duterte on Monday.
Health authorities have voiced preference for extending the current quarantine or having it
“modified” or relaxed in some areas. President Duterte is set to announce tomorrow, April 23, the next step the government will take after the scheduled lifting of quarantine on April 30.
3. Trump offers Phl more aid vs COVID
The Philippine Star, 22 April 2020, p. 1, continued on p. 4
President Donald Trump expressed his solidarity and offered additional assistance to the Philippines to battle the COVID-19 pandemic during his phone call with President Duterte last Sunday,
according to the Embassy of the United States of America in Manila.
Economic
4. NEDA approves P5.09-B DOH virus emergency project Manila Bulletin, 22 April 2020, p. 1, continued on p. 4
The National Economic and Development Authority-Investment Coordination Committee has
approved the proposed COVID-19 Emergency Response Project of the DOH with a total project cost of P5.09 billion.
Under the Department of Health (DOH) proposal, President Duterte bared plans to establish testing and quarantine centers at six major airports, equip more laboratories for coronavirus cases, and establish negative pressure rooms and isolation tents, among others.
5. German businesses here consider PH situation bad Manila Bulletin, 22 April 2020, p. B3
Results of the survey conducted by the German-Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GPCCI – AHK Philippinen) showed that 36 percent of the participating German companies consider their current situation as bad. Majority or 56 percent of companies will invest less or not at all within the next 12 months.
6. Economy to shrink by 1%
The Philippine Star, 22 April 2020, p. B1
Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Benjamin Diokno said that the economy is likely to shrink by one percent to a zero or flat growth this year due to the effects on the economy by the coronavirus pandemic. The last time the Philippine economy contracted was in 1998 or during the Asian
financial crisis at negative 0.6 percent.
