Malacañang on Monday said that President Rodrigo Duterte and US President Donald Trump discussed bilateral efforts to combat the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), as the world continues battling the pandemic that has claimed more than 165,000 lives since December 2019.
Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said President Duterte receive call from US President Trump at about 10 p.m., but he did not offer any details of their 18-minute conversation.
READ: Trump calls Duterte to discuss bilateral efforts to combat COVID-19
The Philippines has the highest number of COVID-19 cases in Southeast Asia, with 6,259 cases. Of that number, 409 have died and 572 have recovered.
The US, meanwhile, has the highest number of COVID-19 cases and deaths worldwide, with 735,366 people who have contracted the disease and 39,095 deaths because of it.
Rapid tests get FDA nod
Sixteen COVID-19 rapid antibody test kits for commercial use has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration as of April 16, 2020, it was reported on Monday. FDA Director General Eric Domingo said the applications have completed necessary documentary requirements and have undergone review and evaluation by the FDA.
READ: FDA okays 5 rapid test kits to slow virus spread
"These test kits are independent from each other and each product has different specifications. These are manufactured by different companies, in various countries and settings. Each uses a technology and validation technique which may vary from others," he said.
He said rapid test kits detect the presence of antibodies in an individual’s blood or serum.
The FDA chief said it is important to consider the timing of the infection and the condition of the patient during the time of specimen collection.
PhilHealth guarantees COVID-19 coverage
The Philippine Health Insurance Corp. said Monday it would reimburse the hospitalization cost of COVID-19 patients admitted before April 15.
PhilHealth president Ricardo Morales offered this assurance after a patient, who asked not to be named, said he paid a private hospital P358,000 because PhilHealth covered only P15,000 of his bill.
But Morales said PhilHealth has released P9 billion to accredited hospitals to cover the cost of COVID-19 patients.
In an interview with radio dzMM, Morales urged the patient to keep his receipts and file for reimbursements directly with PhilHealth. “We will reimburse him fully,” he said.
More sailors come home
Some 1,100 overseas Filipinos, including seafarers from Florida, were repatriated Sunday and Monday due to the coronavirus disease pandemic, the Department of Foreign Affairs said Monday.
In a statement, the DFA said a total of 867 Filipino crew members from the Norwegian Pearl, Sky, Star, Sun, and Escape from the United States arrived on Monday at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport at around 9 a.m. aboard Wamos Air Flights PLM 420 and PLM 922.
The DFA, through the Philippine Embassy in Washington D.C., Department of Health, Bureau of Immigration, Overseas Workers Welfare Administration, Department of Transportation, and local manning agency CF Sharp facilitated the return of the seafarers.
The repatriates underwent mandatory inspection and appropriate safety protocols supervised by the Bureau of Quarantine before being brought to their designated quarantine facilities.
Professional ID cards still valid
The Professional Regulation Commission said professional identification cards that expire during the period of the enhanced community quarantine will be valid until the end of the lockdown.
The PRC added that after the lockdown period, all concerned professionals may file their PIC renewal online within 30 days without incurring any surcharges or penalties.
All professionals with confirmed renewal appointments during the quarantine period will be accommodated once PRC operations resume after the lockdown, the agency said.
DOLE aims to complete cash aid
The Department of Labor and Employment said Monday it aims to complete the distribution of cash aid to 321,000 workers until April 30, the last day of a Luzon-wide lockdown.
READ: DOLE upbeat on restarting workers’ aid
The department has processed the P5,000 aid application of 1.2 million workers, 264,000 of whom have received the assistance, Undersecretary Dominique Tutay said.
He added that the department will forward all applications to the Department of Finance, which will give workers P16,000 over two tranches.
Mass testing for schools urged
Students, teachers, and other school personnel should be included in mass testing for COVID-19 to help ensure a safe reopening of classes, Senator Sherwin Gatchalian said Monday.
In a statement, Gatchalian, who chairs the Senate committee on education, said these groups should first be cleared by local health officers or by any DOH-accredited medical facility as many infected patients remain asymptomatic.
He said the cost of the tests should be shouldered by the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) or local government units.
There are over 27 million students and more than 800,000 teachers in the Philippines, according to the Department of Education.
Pacquiao eyes new rules after lockdown
Saying that life will never be the same until a vaccine is developed to fight the COVID-19 virus, Senator Manny Pacquiao cited the need to create standard hygiene and social distancing protocols which should be strictly enforced to protect human lives.
"It's sad to think but we really need to have new rules in dealing (with others) once the Enhanced Community Quarantine is lifted," he said.
Pacquiao said he would file a bill called the "New Normal Law," which would serve as a code of conduct that provides list of social distancing protocols.
Apart from social distancing, there might be also a need to adopt new guidelines governing certain businesses. With Macon Ramos-Araneta and Rey Requejo
