As hospitals across Southern California run low on supplies for front-liners fighting the coronavirus outbreak, a Filipina American medical professional is using her connections to TV shows for donations to fill those needs. Mel Oliver, a cardiovascular perfusionist and emergency medical technician in Los Angeles, has helped secure boxes of masks, gloves and other gear from…
P200 billion will be allocated to low-income households affected by the enhanced community quarantine enforced in Luzon, Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte announced on Monday, March 30. The quarantine was implemented in mid-March to prevent the further spread of COVID-19 in the country, but has left a dent in the livelihoods of thousands of Filipino families….
California Governor Gavin Newsom announced on Monday, March 31 a new program to increase the number of medical workers to address the quickly growing coronavirus outbreak. Through an executive order, Newsom called upon those in the broad medical community, including retired professionals, to join the statewide fight against the COVID-19 virus by joining the staff…
The Philippine Department of Health (DOH) on Sunday, March 29, condemned the acts of harassment and discrimination against health care workers amid the COVID-19 crisis. In the past few weeks, incidents of some health care professionals being victimized and subjected to acts of violence have been reported across the country. The DOH, in particular, denounced…
Philippine Department of Interior and Local Government Secretary Eduardo Año announced on Tuesday, March 31 that he tested positive for the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). “Today, March 31, I received the result from RITM (Research Institute for Tropical Medicine) informing me that I am positive for COVID-19,” he said in a statement. The DILG chief said…
Former Philippine Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. tested positive for the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), his spokesperson confirmed Tuesday, March 31. Victor Rodriguez, Marcos’ lawyer, wrote in a Facebook post that the former senator is “improving” following the test. “Gumaganda na ang kondisyong pangkalusugan ni dating Senator Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jr. makaraang ihayag sa resulta ng…
Filipino American actor Nico Santos over the weekend announced that his stepfather has succumbed to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). Santos paid tribute to his stepfather “Tito Sonny” on Saturday, March 28, a day after the latter lost his battle with the virus. “He was a kind, caring man. Friendly to a fault. He always greeted…
Kyle Navarro, a Filipino American school nurse, was unlocking his bike on a San Francisco sidewalk after delivering prescription glasses to a student when he noticed an older white man staring at him. He initially brushed off the glare, until the man walked past him, looked back and yelled a derogatory term used against people…
The United States now leads with the highest number of confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), surpassing China and Italy. The country has 101,657 cases of infection and over 1,500 fatalities and as of Friday, March 27, according to a tracker run by Johns Hopkins University. The top five states with confirmed incidences…
As the United States continues to struggle with the lack of test kits and medical equipment to combat the new coronavirus outbreak, the country now leads the world with the most confirmed cases, according to the latest update from the Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center. As of Friday, March 27, the U.S. now has more…
Trump signs off on sweeping spending bill to provide taxpayers with financial relief, businesses with a special lending program On the same day that the House approved the plan, President Donald Trump signed into law the $2.2 trillion relief plan, the largest economic stimulus package in modern American history, to help address the ramifications of…
PHILIPPINE President Rodrigo Duterte will start his self-quarantine over the weekend after several officials tested positive for the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), Malacañang said on Friday, March 27. “PRRD (President Rodrigo Roa Duterte) will self-quarantine himself on his birthday tomorrow following the advice of the PSG as well as doctors for his protection following his exposure…
California Governor Gavin Newsom on Thursday, March 26 announced that financial institutions will provide major financial relief for millions of Californians suffering financially as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak. “Millions of California families will be able to take a sigh of relief,” said Newsom. “These new financial protections will provide relief to California families…
Los Angeles County beaches and beach facilities were closed to the public Friday, March 27 in an effort to stem the spread of COVID-19. By order of the Health Officer, all beaches, beach facilities and beach accessways will be closed through April 19, when the order expires. Department of Beaches and Harbors (DBH) crews began…
The Philippine National Police (PNP) will launch an investigation on Senator Aquilino “Koko” for allegedly breaching quarantine protocols after testing positive for the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). “PNP is ready to launch investigation once complaint is filed by hospital or by an aggrieved party,” said PNP Spokesman Brig. Gen. Bernard Banac on Friday, March 27. While…
The second week of Luzon’s enhanced community quarantine opened with the Department of Transportation (DOTr) adding two more routes to the free shuttle service for health workers in Metro Manila for a total of 16 routes. “From the three initial routes since the program began on 18 March 2020, it now has 16 routes. This…
The Philippines has 71 new coronavirus cases, bringing the national tally to 707, the Department of Health on Thursday, March 26, reported. Meanwhile, seven patients passed away, bringing the overall death toll in the country to 45. All the fatalities are Filipinos with no recent travel history overseas. They are as follows: • 72-year-old Filipino…
Senator Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III on Wednesday, March 25, confirmed that he has tested positive for the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), becoming the second senator to contract the disease after Senator Migz Zubiri. “I was informed last night. I’m okay, I just have a slight sore throat. I don’t have fever nor chills,” he said. Pimentel…
GOVERNOR Jay Inslee has named retired Navy Vice Admiral Raquel Cruz Bono as Washington state director for COVID-19 Health System Response Management. As the former chief executive officer and director for the Defense Health Agency, Bono led a joint, integrated support agency that enabled all branches of the U.S. military medical services to provide health…
99 RANCH Market, via a public announcement signed by CEO Alice Chen, recently shared a public announcement on how the company and its stores are addressing shoppers’ needs during the coronavirus crisis. Here’s the announcement in full: To our valued customers and the 99 Ranch Market community: As we continue to monitor the novel coronavirus…
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte on Wednesday, March 25, signed a bill that grants him special powers to address the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) threat in the country. Under the Bayanihan to Heal As One Act (Senate Bill 1418), the president is authorized to adopt several “temporary emergency measures” to contain COVID-19 as well as to mobilize…
THE Philippines has 84 additional cases of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), bringing the total count to 636, the Department of Health reported on Wednesday, March 25. The department also recorded three additional deaths, bringing the official death toll to 38. The fatalities include a 56-year-old male Filipino resident of Quezon City with no travel history…
Gov. Sisolak restricts malaria drugs for treatment, gatherings of more than 10 CLARK County now has 249 coronavirus cases as of Tuesday, March 24, a week after Nevada Governor Steve Sisolak announced a statewide shutdown of nonessential businesses in an effort to slow the spread of the virus. Of the cases reported, 43% are between…
As the world continues to fight the new coronavirus, the global Asian and Pacific Islander community pushes back on hate, discrimination There are fewer global phenomena that make a bigger impact than a viral pandemic. As told by history, the emergence of a new, deadly pathogen — especially one for which there is no known…
New York continues to grapple with skyrocketing coronavirus cases and because of the spiking numbers, the state launched earlier this week a clinical trial for an experimental drug treatment to heal those who are critically ill. One of those patients in critical condition is Filipino American lawyer David Lat, who has been intubated on a…
Flag-carrier Philippine Airlines (PAL) on Tuesday, March 24, announced that it is temporarily suspending international flights from March 26 to April 14 as more people around the world become infected with the coronavirus (COVID-19). The airline said in a statement that it “could no longer sustain even a limited number of international flights” as more…
Like industries across the country, Broadway has closed the curtain and joined the millions of Americans in self-isolation amid the current outbreak of the new coronavirus. The Broadway community — which includes many notable Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) actors, singers and artists — has always prided itself as an inclusive space that celebrates…
11 deaths reported, including the first fatality under 18 years old In the past 48 hours, 256 new coronavirus cases have been identified in Los Angeles County, bringing the total number to 662 cases, the county Department of Public Health confirmed on Tuesday, March 24. Public health officials also reported three additional deaths as of…
Panic-buying, school closures and, of course, contracting the novel coronavirus itself are not the only things to watch out for as the COVID-19 pandemic rages on in the United States. According to separate warnings from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the public ought to watch out for scammers…
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte will not abuse the special powers granted to him by Congress to address the new coronavirus (COVID-19) in the country, Malacañang said on Tuesday, March 24. According to Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo, the president would use the special powers in accordance with the 1987 Constitution. “The Filipino people are assured that…
