CHENGDU, China — China said it had taken over the premises of the US consulate in the southwestern city of Chengdu on Monday after ordering the facility be shut in retaliation for being ousted from the Chinese consulate in Houston, Texas.
Police in Chengdu restricted access to the area around the consulate on Monday morning, and four officials in personal protective gear were seen walking towards the consulate at about 10:24 a.m. local time (0224 GMT).
China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the consulate was closed as of 10 a.m. It said later that authorities entered the building and took over the premises.
China ordered the closure of the facility on Friday after Washington last week gave China 72 hours to vacate its consulate in Houston, in a dramatic escalation of tensions between the world’s two largest economies.
The United States confirmed the closure of the consulate in a farewell video shared from the US embassy in China’s Twitter account.
“The US consulate in Chengdu has been proudly promoting the mutual understanding between Americans and the people in Sichuan, Chongqing, Guizhou, Yunnan and Tibet since 1985. We will forever miss you,” it said.
State broadcaster CCTV shared a video on its Twitter-like Weibo account, taken by a reporter, of the American flag in front of the consulate in Chengdu being lowered at 6:18 a.m. on Monday.
On Sunday night, a crane was seen entering the consulate compound and hoisting at least one container onto a large truck.
On Saturday evening, a worker was seen using tools including a hammer and chisel to remove fittings around a plaque outside the main entrance.
US-China relations have plunged to their worst in decades over a range of disputes, from trade and technology to the COVID-19 pandemic, China’s territorial claims in the South China Sea and its clampdown on Hong Kong. — Reuters
MODERNA, INC. said on Sunday it has received an additional $472 million from the US government’s Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) to support development of its novel coronavirus vaccine.
The US-based drug maker said the additional funding will support its late-stage clinical development including the expanded Phase 3 study of Moderna’s vaccine candidate.
In April, Moderna had received $483 million from the US federal agency that funds disease-fighting technology, when the experimental vaccine was in an early-stage trial conducted by the US National Institutes of Health.
“Encouraged by the Phase 1 data, we believe that our mRNA vaccine may aid in addressing the COVID-19 pandemic and preventing future outbreaks,” Chief Executive Officer Stéphane Bancel said in a press release.
BARDA’s total funding for the experimental vaccine of Moderna, the first in the United States to begin human trials of a coronavirus vaccine, is now about $955 million.
The vaccine uses synthetic messenger RNA (mRNA) to inoculate against the coronavirus. Such treatments help the body immunize against a virus and can potentially be developed and manufactured more quickly than traditional vaccines.
A Phase 3 study, conducted in collaboration with the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, will begin on July 27 and involve about 30,000 participants, according to the company.
Moderna said it remains on track to be able to deliver about 500 million doses per year, and possibly up to 1 billion doses per year, beginning in 2021.
The announcement about further funding came two days after the drug developer said its formula used in developing the vaccine was not covered under patents owned by Arbutus Biopharma
Pfizer, Inc., Novavax, Inc., Britian’s AstraZeneca Plc are other few drug makers that received funding from BARDA for coronavirus vaccine development. — Reuters
NOW the home of the National Basketball Association (NBA) in the country, Cignal TV, Inc. expressed its excitement, seeing it as very significant in filling a huge space in the puzzle in its push to be the premier destination for sports programming in the Philippines.
Officially sealed on Monday, Cignal TV, along with Smart Communications, Inc., will carry NBA games through free-to-air, satellite television and over-the-top streaming for the remainder of the ongoing 2019-2020 season and for the next three years.
No financial details were provided though.
For Cignal TV officials, to have the NBA in its roster of offerings is a giant leap for the group, the potential of which they cannot wait to explore.
“The NBA is a huge piece of the puzzle, basketball is so loved here in the country and having it pretty much completes our basketball offering since we also have the PBA (Philippine Basketball Association),” said Guido Zaballero, Cignal first vice-president and head of marketing, when sought for comment by BusinessWorld.
“It took a while for us to get the NBA, but we are excited and honored to have it with us finally as the NBA is one of the biggest sports properties there is,” he added.
Cignal’s broadcast of the games begins on July 31, Friday, when the NBA resumes its season after suspending it on March 12 because of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.
The league plays the remainder of its season in a “bubble” setup at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando, Florida, where the 22 qualified teams will be holed up throughout the tournament.
Cignal TV takes over from Solar Entertainment, long the home of the NBA here, whose contract with the The Association ended in September last year but decided not to renew it.
With the NBA now in their fold, Robert P. Galang, president and chief executive officer (CEO) of Cignal and TV5, said they are committed to bringing the games the best way possible anchored on their collective vision as an organization.
“As a group under our boss Manuel V. Pangilinan, we are committed to bringing the best sports content to our various platforms and we want to be the premier destination for sports,” said Mr. Galang in a separate interview.
He went on to say that Cignal, as the country’s most subscribed pay TV provider in the Philippines, presents a good platform for the NBA to continue to reach more Filipino fans.
“With Cignal, awaiting the NBA is our 2.3 million subscribers on pay TV across the country. It can be reassured that we will bring the games to as many people as possible for the NBA to be appreciated some more,” he said.
Apart from pay TV, Mr. Galang said games will also air on free TV over TV5 and ONE Sports as well as other online platforms like Cignal Play.
“[The NBA] can be assured that we will bring the games to more homes and people,” said the Cignal president even as he shared that aside from the games that the NBA will provide them, they will also produce local shows to complement their offering.
The Cignal officials acknowledge that the current situation with the COVID-19 pandemic presents some limitations, particularly in physical fan engagements, in the short term, but they reiterated that these will not stop them from looking for ways to keep the passion of local fans for the NBA burning.
“Unfortunately because of the limitations presented by COVID-19 much of our fan engagements will be done through digital efforts and social media. But we want to tell them (fans) that we share their passion for the NBA and we will exert every effort to bring the NBA that best way we can with them in mind. The NBA is home. So stay tuned,” said Mr. Zaballero
WHILE the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has made it challenging for athletes to squeeze in their usual training regimen, Filipino-American pole vaulter Natalie Uy has managed to stay the course, making most of her time honing her game during the lockdown.
Currently in the United States, Ms. Uy, 25, a gold medal winner in last year’s Southeast Asian Games, shared that she has been able to sustain training but admitted she misses competing regularly in various meets.
“Luckily I was in a situation where I was quarantined actually at a gym. My home was attached to a gym so I was able to work out but obviously I was not able to see anyone. I was not able to work with my coach so I just did all the workouts that I could by myself,” said Ms. Uy in a recent episode of Tiebreaker Vodcasts’ So She Did! podcast.
“But it definitely took a toll on me. You know when you’re used to competing, there’s an element of competition that you don’t get obviously when you’re alone and you’re not seeing other people. And obviously with everything being cancelled, you don’t really know when your next competition is and yeah, it was tough, it was tough,” she added.
Recently though, Ms. Uy did get to compete at the Acadia Invitational in Greenville, North Carolina, hosted by American vaulter and 2016 Olympic silver medalist Sandi Morris held at the latter’s own backyard where the Fil-Am athlete did well, breaking the Philippine record.
Ms. Uy cleared 4.30 meters in the meet, quashing the previous record of 4.25 meters which she herself set in the 2019 SEA Games. She finished sixth overall in the North Carolina competition.
“Yeah it was incredible. They wanted to hold a meet and so they invited most of the top vaulters in the US. I was invited and got to represent the Philippines. We’ve all just been trying to shake off the rust and get into competition mode so yeah,” said Ms. Uy of the Invitational.
Turning attention to her experience in the SEA Games held here in the country, Ms. Uy said it was a nerve-wracking stint but something she had fun with. “It was a little bit nerve-wracking because it’s my first Southeast Asian Games and, of course, it’s in the Philippines so I felt like there were lots of expectations. It was like a perfect mix of stress and awesomeness,” she said.
Moving forward, Ms. Uy said a goal for her is making it to the rescheduled Tokyo Olympic Games in 2021 as part of the Philippine team, which includes already-qualified EJ Obiena.
She acknowledged that with COVID-19 still a concern everything is still up in the air but she is determined to stay focused and keep going.
“I’ve set my goal. If I don’t give my all, I’d be so angry with myself for like kind of giving up. All the challenges are just another kind of bump in the road. You just have to keep going.”
ITS scheduled return to activities last week not pushing through pending formal authorized notice from the government, the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) is hoping that it could finally resume practices before this month ends.
Remains shut since March because of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, the local pro basketball league was angling to have member teams return to modified practices on July 22 but was not able to see it through as the PBA has yet to receive the Joint Administrative Order (JAO) from pertinent government agencies which serves as the go-signal to proceed.
The JAO will come from the Games and Amusements Board, Department of Health and the Philippine Sports Commission.
The signed order contains the implementing guidelines governing the conduct of professional and nonprofessional sports training while the country is under community quarantine brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic.
In principle, the PBA’s return for some activities had been approved by the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases after the league submitted its proposed guidelines and protocol for a gradual return to on-court training.
The PBA was expecting to receive the JAO on Monday and expressed readiness to proceed with its return within the week.
“Once we get the order we’ll have the training,” said PBA Commissioner Willie Marcial.
Before teams can start with on-court training, however, their players must undergo the first of a series of swab testing.
During the on-court training, players are expected to abide by the “closed circuit” method that has them confining their travel as much as possible to home-to-practice facility and back.
But if the players have to go somewhere else they have to make a log entry of it and inform the health officer chosen by the team to ensure proper tracing.
Violation of the imposed closed circuit method would merit a P5,000 fine on the initial offense, which would continue to rise for successive offenses.
Protocol for players are also in place during the workouts themselves, including those pertaining to proper distancing and hygiene. Failure to comply with them accompanies a P20,000 fine on the first offense and a higher penalty in the event of continued violation. The workouts, which limit only six individuals on the court, including four players, at a time, will also be overseen by the team’s designated health officer.
The PBA is positioning to have the phase-in practices as the first step to a return to action, progressing to scrimmages and eventually the competition proper in late September or in October. – Michael Angelo S. Murillo
BLAINE, Minnesota — American Michael Thompson won the 3M Open in Blaine, Minnesota on Sunday by two strokes to claim his second career PGA Tour victory and his first in seven years.
The 35-year-old was solid throughout the tournament and didn’t buckle under pressure, sinking a 12-foot putt on the par-five 18th to seal the win under sunny skies at TPC Twin Cities.
“It has been a long time,” an emotional Thompson said after his round of four-under 67.
“I’m really sad my wife and kids aren’t here to celebrate this with me. I can’t wait to see them. Babe, I love you,” he said.
Thompson, who was tied for the lead coming into Sunday’s final round, produced his best shot on the par-four 16th, where his long shot from the greenside bunker landed a couple feet from the hole.
He made the birdie putt to retake the lead and never looked back, finishing 19-under 265 for the tournament, which was played without fans in attendance to limit the spread of the novel coronavirus.
Fellow American Adam Long finished second after carding 17-under 267 for the tournament while nine players tied for third at 16-under including Tony Finau, Max Homa and Richy Werenski.
With the win, Thompson, who came into the tournament ranked 218 in the world, will now be eligible to compete at next month’s PGA Championship in San Francisco.
Thompson’s only other victory came at the Honda Classic in 2013. He was a runner up at the 2012 U.S. Open.
Next up for Thompson is the WGC-FedEx St. Jude Invitational in Memphis starting Thursday and then the PGA Championship at TPC Harding Park in San Francisco the following week.
“That’s what makes this game so unbelievable is that we have to play for our job every year,” he said.
“To know that I have security for two more years and to get into all those tournaments … it’s just a huge bonus. I’ll have to get my mind right for sweating next week, but oh man, it’s just so exciting.” — Reuters
WORLD number two Simona Halep has withdrawn from next month’s Palermo Ladies Open following Italy’s decision to impose a mandatory quarantine for people coming from Romania and Bulgaria amid the coronavirus pandemic, organizers said on Sunday.
Italian Health Minister Roberto Speranza said on Friday people who have been in Romania and Bulgaria in the past 14 days will be quarantined upon arrival in Italy, a move aimed at preventing the importation of COVID-19 cases.
“We found out with great bitterness the decision of the world number two to cancel her participation,” the tournament’s director Oliviero Palma said in a statement.
Palermo will be the first professional tennis event across the WTA and men’s ATP Tours after a five-month break, with action scheduled to get underway on the clay courts of the Sicilian capital from Aug. 3.
“Given the recent rise in Covid-19 cases in Romania and my anxieties around international air travel at this time, I have made the tough decision to withdraw from Palermo,” Halep said on Twitter. — Reuters
MANCHESTER, England — Manchester United and Chelsea secured places in the Champions League with wins on the final day of the Premier League season while Watford and Bournemouth were relegated along with bottom club Norwich City.
Aston Villa survived the drop thanks to a 1-1 draw at West Ham United which moved them to 35 points, one more than Bournemouth, who go down despite a 3-1 win at Everton, and Watford who lost 3-2 at Arsenal.
A penalty from Bruno Fernandes and late goal from Jesse Lingard gave United a 2-0 win at Leicester City, who missed out on the Champions League by finishing fifth and will have to settle for a spot in the Europa League.
Chelsea ended fourth after a 2-0 home win over Wolverhampton Wanderers thanks to goals from Mason Mount and Olivier Giroud.
Jose Mourinho’s Tottenham Hotspur, who drew 1-1 at Crystal Palace, are also in the Europa League after finishing sixth.
It was a nervous display from United against an injury-ravaged Leicester but they ended the campaign unbeaten in 14 Premier League games and with their mission of regaining a place in the Champions League accomplished.
Draws against Southampton and West Ham had left United needing at least a point at the King Power stadium and while they again looked tired in a nervous display, Ole Gunnar Solksjaer’s side got the job done.
Fernandes, who was central to United’s rise in the second half of the season, put United ahead in the 71st minute after Anthony Martial was brought down in the box.
UNGUARDED GOAL The win was wrapped up when substitute Lingard robbed Leicester keeper Kasper Schmeichel on the edge of the area and slotted into the unguarded goal.
Chelsea also needed just a point at Stamford Bridge to guarantee a place in Europe’s top club competition and a wonderful free kick from Mount and confident finish from Giroud put them two goals up by the break — a lead Wolves never threatened to damage.
There was tension at the bottom, though, with Villa taking the lead at West Ham thanks to Jack Grealish in the 84th minute but the hosts hit back quickly through Andriy Yarmolenko, leaving Dean Smith’s side anxiously waiting on Watford’s result.
Watford had been 3-0 down at Arsenal but a Troy Deeney penalty and Danny Welbeck goal gave the Hornets hope.
It was not to be, however, for the club who sacked manager Nigel Pearson with two games remaining.
Bournemouth needed to win and hope other results went their way and their 3-1 win at Goodison Park wasn’t enough to save Eddie Howe’s side from an end to their five-year stay in the top flight.
Champions Liverpool rounded off their superb season with a 3-1 win at Newcastle United to finish on 99 points, 18 ahead of second-placed Manchester City who crushed Norwich 5-0. — Reuters
TURIN, Italy — Juventus won Serie A for the ninth season in a row when Cristiano Ronaldo set them on the way to a 2-0 win over Sampdoria on Sunday although the Portuguese veteran missed a late penalty.
The 35-year-old broke the deadlock in first-half stoppage time with his 31st league goal of the season and Federico Bernardeschi added the second as Juve moved seven points clear of Inter Milan.
Juve, in their first season under coach Maurizio Sarri, clinched the title with two games to spare despite a stuttering run in which they won only one out of five matches before Sunday.
Sarri, who claimed the first major Italian title of his career, blamed their problems on the unique situation caused by the three-month coronavirus stoppage which led to the championship race finishing in a hectic six weeks played at the height of summer.
Juventus have 83 points while Inter, whose coach Antonio Conte led the Turin side to the first three titles of their present run, are on 76 and Atalanta and Lazio have 75 each.
Samp, who have climbed away from the relegation zone in the last few rounds and are 15th, had Morten Thorsby sent off for second bookable offence in the 76th minute.
Juventus lost two players to injury in the first half as defender Danilo had to go of after colliding with Gaston Ramriez and Paulo Dybala suffered a muscular injury to his left leg.
Fabio Quagliarella had Samp’s best first-half chance when the ball was pulled back to him but his left-foot shot was weak and easily stopped by Wojciech Szczesny.
Juve went ahead from a free kick when Miralem Pjanic rolled the ball to Ronaldo and the Portuguese swept the ball home.
Sampdoria had a flurry of chances early in the second half.
Mehdi Leris sidefooted wide, Szczesny had to turn a looping Ramirez free kick around his post and Lorenzo Tonelli sent a powerful header narrowly wide from the resulting corner.
After those let-offs, Juve doubled their lead in 67th minute. Sampdoria goalkeeper Emil Audero could not hold Ronaldo’s shot and Bernardeschi, who had replaced Danilo, snapped up the rebound.
Ronaldo’s evening ended on a sour note when he smashed a penalty against the crossbar after Alex Sandro was fouled. — Reuters
The implementation of quarantine protocols, travel restrictions and physical distancing due to the COVID-19 pandemic have drastically altered how Filipinos live and stay connected.
In fact, the shift to the so-called “new normal” has never been more apparent as the pandemic made internet connectivity a basic essential in our daily lives, just like electricity and water.
Being connected in the digital context has become a must for Filipinos and for the country to survive this pandemic as work and commercial activities now largely depend on it. As such, there is a need to ensure that this basic commodity will be available to more and more Filipinos, now more than ever.
For this to happen, the government and the telco industry must work together to ensure that important broadband infrastructures are in place so that the connectivity much needed in homes, schools, businesses and other establishments can be provided.
“This is where we need the help and support of the government, especially the local government units, so that we can expand our capacity by building more cell sites and towers in the next few months in residential areas. We also need to upgrade our fiber connectivity to improve further our data speeds. This is the only way we can address the growing demand not only of our customers but the public in general,” said Gil Genio, Globe Chief Technology and Information Officer and Chief Strategy Officer.
The pandemic has shown that Filipinos need wireless broadband while they are on the move and fixed broadband while working or learning from home, especially when availing various digital online services such as Zoom, Google, Viber, Facebook, YouTube and many more. Availability of wireless broadband is made possible by cell sites and towers, while wired broadband availability is addressed by having fixed broadband infrastructure.
Nonetheless, for the longest time, the telco industry’s bid to expand and put up these needed broadband infrastructures has been stymied by various reasons, foremost of which are the permitting requirements imposed by LGUs as well as the opposition by hostile homeowners associations.
“The government and the telcos need to collaborate now, more than ever, to lay down and build the necessary infrastructures to deliver the needed connectivity as more Filipinos adapt to the new normal, which requires more e-services and e-governance. We need to connect as many Filipinos as possible and make their mobile experience more convenient and enjoyable,” added Genio.
Cell-site monopole
Despite the ongoing quarantine protocols, Globe is set to push through with its network builds in the next three months.
Its network expansion plans in various provinces all over the Philippine will answer the growing demand for more connectivity.
With the help of the government, the company can also bring the digital experience to more Filipinos especially in the far-flung areas of the country.
If there’s anything this pandemic has taught us, it’s having priorities. Many Filipinos, having been under community quarantine for a few months, have had some time to really think about what they value and how they envision their future. Two things have proven important: financial security and having a home to call one’s own. While this may lead to an impetus to purchase property, whether that’s to live in or earn from, thoughtfulness and research would go a long way. CitiGlobal Realty Develoment, Inc., a lifestyle developer that brings affordable leisure properties to Filipinos, lists the do’s and don’t’s of real estate investing in the post-COVID world:
DO check your budget and consider all the costs.You have the motivation, but do you have the funds?With so many attractive low-downpayment offers available today, purchasing property has been more accessible than ever — but it’s far from a straightforward buy. Extra costs and fees can pile up and eat into your budget, so make sure that your budget covers costs beyond the downpayment and ammortization fees. Pandemic or no pandemic, it’s always a good thing to consider your budget.
DO consider your needs. Knowing what you know now, you’re better equipped to assess which property type and location is best for you. Did you realize that you want to grow your own food, and therefore need a home that has space for this? Do you want a home that’s closer to your family? Do you want a vacation home where you can stay isolated in comfort for as long as you wish? With businesses and schools migrating to digital platforms, connectivity takes precedence over proximity — which begs, the question, what life do you really want to live and where do you want to live it?
DON’T get distracted by things that shine. Have you been spending too much time on Pinterest again? While having inspiration is always a good thing, don’t let your “pegs” sway you into making impulsive decisions. As many of us have learned while under quarantine, any home has the potential to become a home office, a professional kitchen, a yoga studio, etc. — it’s all up to you. Look past the well-lit, wide-angle-shot brochure photos and visit the property. Book a visit with an agent. Inspect it with a professional.
DO your research on the developer. Whether the property you’re eyeing is in a masterplanned community, a subdivision, or a condo development, always do your background research on the developer. What is their track record? Do they follow through on their vision? Are their existing properties well maintained? Do they work with reliable utilities providers? All these are things come with the property, and it’s best to make sure you’re not getting stuck with a bad deal.
DO consider its earning potential. A property in itself is an investment, but an emerging type of property, condotels, are claimingto have more earning potential, since owners can rent them out as hotel rooms when they are not around. Most Filipino property investors are Overseas Filipino Workers or owners of multiple homes, for whom condotels are a viable option. CitiGlobal Realty Develoment, Inc. has condotel properties in Tagaytay and Palawanthat come with hotel privileges including housekeeping, room service, maintenance, amenities, and shuttle service. Owners may enjoy it as a vacation home, or enroll their property under CitiGlobal’s Condotel Program, where owners can rent out their units while they are away. Now more than ever, passive income investments provide an increased sense of security. Do consider buying a property that can give you your investment back.
For more information about investing in real estate and CitiGlobal properties, visit https://citiglobal.com.ph.
A preparedness checklist, a map of risk zones, and contactless, cashless, and paperless services were among the infection control measures against COVID-19 discussed by Makati Medical Center, Riverside Medical Center, and Asian Hospital and Medical Center. These are in addition to hand hygiene, physical distancing, and barrier control, which remain the cornerstone measures against the disease. — WWW.FACEBOOK.COM
By Patricia B. Mirasol
Three hospitals, namely Makati Medical Center (MMC), Negros Occidental’s Riverside Medical Center, and Asian Hospital and Medical Center (AHMC) outlined the infection control measures they have put in place during a recent webinar. This, against the backdrop of rising COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) cases in the country.
“Hospitals are probably some of the most COVID-safe places one can go these days,” said Atty. Pilar Nenuca Almira, Chairperson of the Metro Pacific Hospitals COVID crisis management team, in a statement. “If hospitals follow best practices in terms of infection control, zoning, and engineering, they are actually much safer than groceries or malls.”
PREPAREDNESS CHECKLIST
MMC instituted a Preparedness Checklist that includes, among others,
• pre-screening patients before their actual visit
• queuing patients to avoid crowding in the clinics
• triaging patients and their companions
• checking temperatures at all entrances
• physical distancing in common areas such as lobbies
• implementing a strict no mask-no entry policy
• installing hand sanitizer dispensers
• providing personal protective equipment (PPE) for staff
Furthermore, the emergency department (ED) has a separate facility with its own air-handling system for those suspected to have the virus. The main ED also has a separate cold zone (or uncontaminated area) with its own personnel and its own portable HEPA (High-Efficiency Particulate Air) filters.
MAPPING RISK ZONES
Negros Occidental’s Riverside Medical Center, meanwhile, identified and mapped out high-risk zones, including the outpatient department with respiratory infection patients; and moderate-risk zones, including the radiology and laboratory areas.
This classification helps the hospital determine the PPE required in each area, said Dr. Genesis G. Golingan, President and CEO of Riverside Medical Center.
In addition, they also have two separate entrances for clients and employees, two separate floors for COVID and non-COVID patients, two dedicated laboratory extraction and imaging teams, and two separate outpatient clinics to separate those with respiratory illnesses from those without.
A car call service for patients who don’t want to enter the hospital is also available: patients call Riverside to set an appointment for a procedure such as blood extraction. They are then directed to a specific parking area where the procedure is done and informed of their results via website and SMS. Payment is done online.
CONTACTLESS, CASHLESS, AND PAPERLESS
Asian Hospital and Medical Center (AHMC) improved real-time communication with all stakeholders and shifted to contactless, cashless, and paperless services through DigitizAsian, an ecosystem for online and on-site doctor consultations, elective admission (or admissions subject to choice) booking, test appointments, and home care service requests.
One of the biggest challenges for AHMC, according to Dr. Andres M. Licaros, Jr., President and CEO, was reopening the hospital to patients who delayed their treatments due to the quarantine measures. Prior to the pandemic, the Center had been hosting thousands of outpatient treatments a day.
MMC medical director Dr. Saturnino “Bong” Javier, moderator of the webinar, summed up the cornerstone measures against COVID-19 as hand hygiene, physical distancing, and barrier control. “But the most important of all is compliance,” he said. “None of this is meaningful if nobody will comply. This is true for hospitals as it is for communities.”
The webinar, titled “Is Your Hospital Safe: Inpatient and Outpatient Safety in the New Normal,” was organized by the Metro Pacific Hospitals COVID crisis management team.
