MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines’ tally of novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases has climbed to 979,740 on Friday after the Department of Health (DOH) reported 8,718 additional infections.

In its 4 p.m. bulletin, the DOH said the latest tally pushed the country’s total active cases to 102,799.

The agency noted that one laboratory failed to submit data on time.

Total recoveries climbed to 860,412 after 13,812 more patients recuperated from the viral respiratory disease.

The death toll rose to 16,529 with 159 new fatalities.

MANILA, Philippines – Department of Health (DOH) Secretary Francisco Duque III received his first dose of a vaccine against novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) on Friday.

Duque was inoculated around 10 a.m. with CoronaVac dose made by Chinese firm Sinovac Biotech. Health Undersecretary Geraldo Bayugo administered the vaccine.

Duque, 64, is a senior citizen that belongs to A2 category of the government’s COVID-19 priority list.

“As I receive my dose of the COVID-19 vaccine today, I invite everyone to do the same, and choose to be protected,” Duque was quoted as saying in a statement issued by the DOH.

“Let us all take part in protecting public health, and let us be in unison in spreading one message: that vaccines are safe, and vaccines are effective,” he added.

Duque also stressed that the government is doing everything it can to secure sufficient vaccine supply to cover 70 million Filipinos.

The DOH chief’s vaccination follows the recommendation of the Food and Drug Administration to use CoronaVac on senior citizens amid a shortage of AstraZeneca vaccine supply, which is used to inoculate the elderly.

MANILA, Philippines — Sa gitna ng nararanasang pandemya, paulit-ulit ang panawagan ng mga otoridad sa publiko na sumunod sa minimum health protocols upang makaiwas sa novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

Kabilang na rito ang palagiang pagsusuot ng face mask, face shield, social distancing, paghuhugas ng kamay at disinfection.

Ngunit kung dinapuan pa rin ng COVID-19 sa kabila ng pag-iingat, payo ng Department of Health (DOH) na makipag-ugnayan sa health emergency response team ng barangay upang magabayan sa mga nararapat gawin.

Kung naka-home quarantine ang pasyente, pinapayuhang limitahan ang pakikisalamuha sa mga kasama sa bahay at siguraduhing may tamang bentilasyon at air circulation ang silid.

Payo rin ng DOH sa mga naka-home quarantine na maghanda ng “COVID-19 Care kit” na magagamit oras na makaramdam ng sintomas ng COVID-19 lalo na’t puno ngayon ang maraming ospital sa Metro Manila.

Ayon sa DOH, dapat naglalaman ng thermometer, ilang gamot at mga aparato ang COVID-19 Care kit.

Importante ring magkaroon ng oximeter upang malaman kung may sapat pang oxygen ang katawan ng pasyente. Ang oxygenation level ay hindi dapat bababa sa 94 porsiyento.

Dapat ding lakipan ng vitamins C, D at Zinc ang care kit upang mapalakas ang immune system ng isang tao. Samahan na rin ng disinfectant at face mask ang care kit.

Mahalaga rin ang pagkain ng masustansiyang pagkain, pag-inom ng maraming tubig, at pagkakaroon ng sapat na pahinga.

Kung magkakaroon ng pagbabago sa pakiramdam gaya ng hirap sa paghinga, kailangan itong agad ipaalam sa barangay response team upang maisugod sa ospital.

Babala naman ng DOH, bawal mag-self medicate at huwag basta maniniwala sa mga nababasang survival guide dahil maaari pa itong magdulot ng higit na panganib sa kondisyon ng isang pasyente.

“As for the other drugs… Katulad ng mga melatonin, VCO, ivermectin, hindi pa po kumpleto ang mag ebidensya dito sa mga supplement at gamot na mga ito para masabing magamit ito at home,” ang pahayag ni Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire.

Ngunit wala nang pinakamabisang proteksyon sa lahat ng ito kundi ang manalangin at humingi ng tulong at awa sa Dios na siyang makapag-iingat sa lahat ngayong may pandemya. – RRD (mula sa ulat ni Correspondent Aiko Miguel)