HEADS UP: Philippines Confirms First Case of Lambda Variant (Aug. 16)

Here’s a Heads Up from reportr on news you need to know today, Aug. 16.

COVID NEWS

• The Philippines reported its first case of the Lambda coronavirus variant, which has been classified as a variant of interest by the WHO. Here’s what you need to know about coronavirus variants.
• For the second consecutive day, the country reported over 14,000 new COVID-19 cases, bringing the total number of active cases to over 100,000.
• The enhanced community quarantine in Laguna has been extended until Aug. 20.
• To take better care of their COVID-19 cases, the Philippine General Hospital says it will not accept non-COVID patients for now.

VACCINE NEWS

• More COVID-19 vaccines arrived in the country, including an additional 500,000 AstraZeneca doses, 800,000 Pfizer doses, 15,000 Sputnik V doses, and 469,200 Moderna doses.
• The Philippine Food and Drug Administration said less than 1% of those who were vaccinated got infected with COVID-19 --- proof that vaccines actually work.

NEWS YOU CAN USE

• Did you know that you can start investing for as low as P50? Here’s how to do it with GInvest.
• Is the yellow card a mandatory international travel document now? Here’s what the Bureau of Quarantine says.
• Introducing Grab Saver Pack, a new feature that provides users with a bundle of exclusive vouchers on the popular food delivery app.

NEWS YOU NEED TO KNOW

• Even as it was not lost to corruption, Vice President Leni Robredo said the deficiencies flagged by COA in the use of P67 billion-worth of COVID-19 funds was still a governance issue.
• Former senatorial candidate Samira Gutoc has joined the national executive board of Aksyon Demokratiko, the political party of Mayors Isko Moreno and Vico Sotto.
• Budget Sec. Wendel Avisado has resigned from his position citing health reasons, just a few days before Malacañang submits the 2022 national budget to Congress.
• This college student has found a way to help Benguet women whose work lives have been disrupted by the pandemic, by creating a clothing brand using native fabrics.