Thread by @rapplerdotcom

NOW: Cabinet Secretary and IATF spokesman Karlo Nograles holds his regular morning press briefing

Nograles says the IATF issued Resolution No. 25 during their meeting yesterday, April 17. The resolution states the IATF adopts a national government-enabled, LGU-led, and people-centered response to COVID-19.

Nograles says all agencies are directed to recommend sector-specific plans, strategies, and targets to the IATF.

Nograles: The National Task Force is likewise directed to develop the necessary operational plans.

Nograles: LGUs are enjoined to pursue regional cooperation in leading the fight against COVID-19.

Nograles: The DILG in coordination with LGUs shall hereafter lead the contact tracing efforts of the government. For this purpose, the DOH and DILG are directed to enter into a data sharing agreement in accordance with the Data Privacy Act.

Nograles: DOH guidelines on the utilization of rapid antibody test kits as presented to the IATF and amended are hereby approved.

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Nograles states he will elaborate on the DOH guidelines in next Monday’s press briefing.

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Nograles: The NTF subgroup on food security is reorganized into the NTF task group on food security. With the DA as chair, and DTI, NEDA, DSWD, DBM, DepEd, DOST, the national security council, the DILG and such other agencies as may be determined by the chair as members.

Nograles: With a view to assist and support sugar farmers and the sugar industry, the recommendation of the DA to encourage LGUs to include sugar in their relief good packages is adopted.

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Nograles: The NTF chief implementer is hereby authorized to reestablish, reorganize, and abolish subgroups as necessary

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Nograles states the DOT launched an online training program to help tourism stakeholders adjust to “the new normal.” Stakeholders can join via Zoom video conference.

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Nograles warns against online phishing, especially with online banking and other similar transactions.

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Nograles: We encourage everyone to please double check and verify these requests for donations. Mas mainam po na ibigay sa mga personal na kakilala natin.

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Nograles: Noong IATF briefing noong Miyerkules, nabanggit ko na nasa 16 testing centers tayo sa buong bansa. Yesterday, DOH announced it accredited one more institution: the Chinese General Hospital in Manila.

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Nograles: Yesterday, the DOH announced it is looking for healthcare professionals to augment its manpower in its ongoing operations relative to the COVID-19 outbreak.

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Nograles: The DOH reported that a total of 766 healthcare workers in the country are confirmed to have COVID-19. 339 doctors and 242 nurses.

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Nograles: Sa kabuuan, 22 [health workers] na po ang pumanaw dahil sa sakit na ito.

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Nograles: This is just a somber reminder for all of us to do our part to contain this outbreak.

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Nograles: We are not powerless against this disease. We can do something about it. We can prevent painful losses among our health workers, sa kapwa nating Pilipino. May magagawa tayong lahat para magligtas ng buhay.

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Nograles: Ang alam ko po is naisama na rin po ang Pilipinas sa solidarity trials ng WHO. Maisama na rin po ang mga pasyente natin.

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Nograles: May meeting po kami sa Lunes sa IATF. Ang aming pag-uusapan doon ay kung ano ang mangyayari after April 30.

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Nograles: Kasama po ang PUMs [sa mass testing]. So kahit ganoon na po ang bagong classification ng WHO, we went over and beyond that. In other words, yung PUMs, PUMs pa rin, for purposes of testing.

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Nograles: May bagong testing kit na rin na pumasok po sa ating bansa. Pumasok na kahapon yung GeneXpert. It's also a lab-based testing kit or device. 45 minutes na lang po ang turnaround time.

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Nograles: Over and beyond that, mag-uutilize pa rin tayo ng rapid test kits. So tatlo na po ang testing na gagamitin natin para mapabilis ang pagtetest natin.

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Nograles: Maraming mga LGUs ngayon ay on their own, they're already thinking about buying their own rapid test kits. That's the reason why sa Monday po, idedetalye namin kung paano gamitin ang mga test kits.

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Nograles: Please use the testing kits na accredited by the FDA. Rapid test kits can only be administered by a physician. Ayaw po namin ang mga false positives, false negatives.

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Nograles says reports about the lockdown being extended to mid-May are "totally false, totally untrue, totally fake."

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Nograles: As far as the BJMP is concerned, bawat BJMP facility ay mayroon na po tayong ready isolation facility. If ever may indications, symptoms, alam na po ang mga BJMP personnel kung ano kailangan gawin: isolate agad. BuCor ganoon din.

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Nograles: With regard naman doon sa release of PDLs, mayroon po tayong pending petition sa Korte Suprema. Hindi po tayo pwedeng magbigay ng komento tungkol diyan.

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Nograles: Wala kaming pinapahirapan, mas gusto nga namin na mas maraming mga testing laboratories ang maaaccredit. We're also not playing favorites here, pero siyempre napag-usapan ang tungkol sa Marikina as an example for policy.

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Nograles: All the more we're hopeful that the personnel of Marikina will pass the proficiency test.

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