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SLOW ROLLOUT THREATENS RECOVERY BID—WB
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POOR NATIONS SEEN TO TAKE A HIT WITH INDIA, EU MOVES
VOL. XXXV • NO. 45 • 3 SECTIONS 12 PAGES • P18 • SATURDAY, MARCH 27, 2021 • www.manilastandard.net • mst.daydesk@gmail.com
Cases nearing 10,000/day
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DOH tally a new record; NCR Plus gets more vaccines to stem the surge
By Willie Casas
T
HE Philippines logged a record-high 9,838 daily new cases of COVID-19 Friday, bringing the total number of infections to 702,856, the Department of Health (DOH) reported.
COVID-19 PH AT A GLANCE
(AS OF 4 PM MARCH 26)
702,856 TOTAL NUMBER OF CASES
9,838 109,018 NEW
ACTIVE
13,149
54
580,689
663
NEW
DEATHS
RECOVERIES
NEW
Fifty-four more people died from the disease, bringing the COVID-19 death toll to 13,149, which is 1.87 percent of the total cases. On the other hand, the DOH also reported that 663 persons recently recovered from the disease, bringing the total recoveries to 580,689, which is 82.6 percent of total infections. This left a record high of 109,018 active cases, which was 15.5 percent of the total number of cases. The previous highest daily increase was recorded on Thursday at 8,733. Of the active cases, 95.1 percent are mild; 3 percent are asymptomatic; 0.7 percent are critical; 0.8 percent are severe; and 0.42 percent are moderate. Next page
PH bet ready to soar in int’l beauty pageant FIRST DOSE. A medical health worker shows his COVID-19 vaccination card at the Andres Bonifacio Integrated School in Welfareville Compound, Mandaluyong on Friday, March 26, 2021. Eligible front-liners may register at the MandaVax to get their jabs. Joey Razon
POOR NATIONS SEEN TO TAKE A HIT WITH INDIA, EU MOVES INDIA is holding up export licences for COVID-19 vaccines destined for poor countries due to increased domestic demand as its own cases rise, Covax facility co-leader Gavi said. The AstraZeneca-Oxford vaccine is
being produced under licence in India for the Covax scheme, also led by the World Health Organization, which is meant to ensure that low-income countries can access Covid-19 jabs.
By Nickie Wang PHILIPPINE bet Samantha Bernardo has emerged one of 10 standouts at the live broadcast of Miss Grand International preliminary competition Thursday night in Bangkok, Thailand. For the opening segment, the 28-year-old model wore a gown designed by Filipino designer Next page
READY TO SOAR. Palawan lass Samantha Bernardo.
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Churches get go-ahead to allow for 10% capacity Graft raps vs. line-jumping By Vito Barcelo THE government finally gave in to the Catholic Church’s request to ease restrictions on religious gatherings as churches were allowed to accommo-
date up to 10 percent of seating capacity for a four-day period during the observance of the Holy Week from April 1 to April 4. However, no gatherings or religious activities will be allowed outside the
church or venue. The use of audio-video screens or public address systems outside the church while the Mass is being celebrated is prohibited. Attendance through various online platforms, Next page
execs, local officials—DOJ By Rey E. Requejo and Maricel V. Cruz
THE government may file administrative cases against public officials who jump the line to get inoculated against COVID-19, Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said Friday. “Possible administrative liability
24 colleges may hold face-to-face classes—CHED
[may be filed] if they are government officials who are not in the priority list,” Guevarra said in a text message. While the new vaccination law does not provide penal provisions against erring government officials who jump ahead of the line in getting jabs, they may be held liable for violating the Next page
VIETNAM BLASTS CHINA PRESENCE Story on A4
By Willie Casas and Maricel V. Cruz FRIDAY MASS. Around 100 people attend Mass at the Quiapo church in Manila Friday after the church administration has imposed a 10% limit on the church capacityamid the rising cases of coronaviruz disease in Metro Manila. The limit stands until April 4, 2021. Norman Cruz
SLOW ROLLOUT THREATENS RECOVERY BID—WB
By Julito G. Rada and Maricel V. Cruz
pines due to people’s hesitancy on the from the potential gross domestic vaccines and the government’s strug- product growth this year. gle to conduct large-scale inoculaAaditya Mattoo, the bank’s chief THE World Bank warned on Friday tions could delay economic recovery economist in the Asia-Pacific Region, Next page that slow vaccinations in the Philip- and take away 1-percentage point
THE Commission on Higher Education is allowing 24 higher education institutions (HEIs) to hold “limited face-to-face classes” starting in the second semester of the academic year 2020-2021. CHED Chairman J. Prospero de Vera III said these colleges and universities passed stringent retrofitting and had fully complied with the guidelines of the Department of Health and Next page
RARE VAN GOGH FETCHES $15.4 M Story on B2