Coronavirus cases in Philippines climb to 1,094,849

Members of the Manila Police District Station 5 round up more than 100 individuals at the Ferguson basketball court in Ermita, Manila on May 6, 2021 for violating the curfew and health protocols.
The STAR/Miguel de Guzman

MANILA, Philippines — Health authorities on Saturday reported 6,979 additional COVID-19 infections, bringing the national caseload to 1,094,849.

What's new today?

  • The government’s pandemic task force has allowed point-to-point air travel from the so-called “NCR Plus” area for leisure purposes in a bid to revive economic activity in tourist destinations that took a major blow due to the pandemic.

  • The Food and Drug Administration Friday granted a local pharmaceutical company’s application to register its ivermectin for human use, paving the way for it to be manufactured, distributed and sold. 

  • The drug, however, is indicated as anti-parasitic and is still not registered for the prevention or treatment of COVID-19.

  • The government needs P20 billion to fund COVID-19 vaccine procurement this year and another P90 billion for next year, officials leading the pandemic response told senators Thursday night. 

  • Minors aged 15 to 17 and citizens age 65 and above are now permitted to leave their homes, but only to register for the Philippine Identification System, Malacañang said Friday.

— Bella Perez-Rubio with a report from Xave Gregorio 

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