Perhaps travel ban comming to an end

[OnMyWay]

1 hour ago, hk blues said:

First of all, the data is out of kilter with other places where the unvaccinated are more likely to fall ill with Covid thus take a test thus be found positive

Do you have some stats for that? These stats are from a week ago.  Not quite as high but similar.  Google Israel.

I think like Israel, Olongapo has a high % of vax residents.  They have don a good job with their vax programs.

 

[Jollygoodfellow]

9 hours ago, graham59 said:

Another clue:

There has been a run on all types of analgesics up this way (Pangasinan), and now getting hard to get hold of...according to my Mrs, who was out shopping for some yesterday.  

There has been a shortage of basically any medicine everywhere for over 2 weeks. They put restrictions on amounts allowed to be bought and from what I gather from the news is the typhoon had a great deal to do with a shortage or so they blamed.

Last week we went to 4 pharmacys and no stock of things like bioflu or for anything for allergies. We did manage to find some Advil. Most pharmacys in Cebu had nothing to sell. Not sure if its the same today.

[OnMyWay]

Today's stats for Olongapo:  90 new cases, 86 fully vacinated.  25 Asymptomatic.

Now get this.  They already suspend face to face classes.  Now this.  I'm not sure if it is going to effect our kids enrolled in Freeport private schools, but I have a feeling it will.

[Joey G]

7 minutes ago, OnMyWay said:

Today's stats for Olongapo:  90 new cases, 86 fully vacinated.  25 Asymptomatic.

Now get this.  They already suspend face to face classes.  Now this.  I'm not sure if it is going to effect our kids enrolled in Freeport private schools, but I have a feeling it will.

Actually, in all the madness over the past 2 years... closing schools right now might be the most sensible move. Kinda like when there's a major flu outbreak. The days of going to school with a sniffle and cold are over... testing of anyone, at any time, will show lot's of people are sick... and since quarantine is the solution, many will be at home anyways.

Anyone remember when they used to give perfect attendance awards in school back in the day... I doubt that will ever happen again in our lifetime.

[OnMyWay]

3 minutes ago, Joey G said:

Actually, in all the madness over the past 2 years... closing schools right now might be the most sensible move. Kinda like when there's a major flu outbreak. The days of going to school with a sniffle and cold are over... testing of anyone, at any time, will show lot's of people are sick... and since quarantine is the solution, many will be at home anyways.

Anyone remember when they used to give perfect attendance awards in school back in the day... I doubt that will ever happen again in our lifetime.

This online school they are closing.

[Joey G]

1 minute ago, OnMyWay said:

This online school they are closing.

I'm assuming that with so many people sick or taking of sick people, they feel it's not worth doing. I'd like to think it isn't just being lazy and not wanting to teach.  But agree, finding common sense in these decisions is getting harder.

[OnMyWay]

More restrictions for domestic travel to/from MNL.  No kids allowed.

Philippine Airlines

Advisory No. 237
FOR DOMESTIC FLIGHTS:  NO VACCINATION, NO FLY (new DOTr Order) 
Effective January 17, 2022, airlines are only allowed to accept fully vaccinated passengers for carriage on our domestic flights to and from Manila. 
This requirement was imposed by the Philippine Department of Transportation (DOTr) and is valid for as long as the Metro Manila area (National Capital Region – NCR) remains under Alert Level 3 or higher.  The requirement applies to all domestic travel to and from NCR, including the travel of individuals who reside outside NCR but who work inside NCR. 
Travelers are considered fully vaccinated if at least two weeks have elapsed after their second dose of a two-dose COVID vaccine, or two weeks after receiving a single-dose COVID vaccine. You are required to present physical or digital copies of a vaccine card issued by your local government unit (LGU), or a vaccine certification issued by the Department of Health (DOH), or any document prescribed by the IATF (Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Disease); as well as a valid government-issued identification card (ID) with your picture and address.  
However, you may be exempted from this requirement if:
1. You have a medical condition that prevents full COVID-19 vaccination, as evidenced by a duly signed medical certificate with the doctor’s name and contact details; or
2. You are traveling to procure essential goods and services (e.g., medicine, medical devices, medical and dental necessities, food/water, etc.), as evidenced by a duly issued barangay health pass or other appropriate proof to justify such travel.
If you are exempted in line with the above, you will need to present a negative RT-PCR test result taken within the last 48 hours before your entry into the departure terminal, as required under the implementing rules set by the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP).
We regret that we will temporarily be unable to accept unvaccinated children for boarding on our domestic flights to and from Manila, unless they fall under one of the above exceptions (e.g., traveling for urgent medical reasons).
We seek your kind understanding, as we are required to comply with government directives for the safety of all travelers and our communities. We reiterate that the new directives apply only on domestic flights to and from Manila; our other domestic flights do not fall under these restrictions. 
If the new directive prevents you from traveling, and you purchased your ticket prior to January 17, 2022 and booked for travel on any date from January 17 to January 31, 2022, your ticket is safe and remains valid, and you may avail of the following options:
1. Convert your ticket to Travel Credits equivalent to the unused base fare of your ticket. Voucher validity is one year (1) year from date of issuance.
2. Rebook or Reroute your ticket to another flight with available space within 60 days from the original flight in the same cabin class.
3. Refund ticket without penalties, excluding Ticketing Service Charge. 
No show fees will be collected if your confirmed reservation was not cancelled at least four hours before your booked flight departure time.  
You may request the above through our MyPAL Request Hub facility at www.bit.ly/MPRHPAL.
For such rebooking requests and transactions, we encourage you to use our MyPAL Request Hub rather than call our PAL customer hotline (which is presently unable to fully accommodate the very high volume of calls and requests). If you purchased your ticket through a travel agent, please deal directly with your agent.
Thank you for your patience and cooperation as we work together with our government authorities to promote and enforce safe air travel.

[Jollygoodfellow]

PH to remain closed to foreign tourists under new arrival, quarantine protocols

Despite allowing certain international travelers to enter amid the rising number of coronavirus (COVID-19) cases, the Philippines will remain closed to foreign tourists, the government’s pandemic task force decided.

Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles made the announcement as the government came up with new country risk qualifications for the period of January 16 to 31, 2022.

In his press briefing on Friday, January 14, Nograles said that Filipinos from red list territories will now be allowed to enter the Philippines since the Omicron variant of COVID-19 was already in the country and in consideration of Filipinos who want to return home.

Fully vaccinated international travelers from green list countries and territories are also allowed to enter the country but this policy does not include foreign tourists.

In addition, starting February 16, foreign nationals will be required to present proof of full vaccination before being allowed to enter the country. The following, however, are exempted from this requirement:

Children below 18 years old
People who are medically unable to receive the vaccine, as certified by a competent public health authority in their country of origin
Foreign diplomats and their qualified dependents or 9(e) visa holders
Red list protocols

Fully vaccinated Filipinos coming from red list countries are required to produce a negative RT-PCR test taken within 48 hours before their travel. They must also undergo facility-based quarantine and have another RT-PCR test on the seventh day.

Once a negative result is obtained, they may be released from the facility but will be required to complete the 14-day quarantine in their homes.

Unvaccinated, partially vaccinated, or those whose vaccination status cannot be verified must comply with the test-before-travel requirement and undergo facility-based quarantine upon their arrival to the country with another RT-PCR test taken on the seventh day.

Regardless of the result of the latest RT-PCR test, these travelers will only be discharged after completing the 10-day facility-based quarantine. They shall observe home quarantine until the 14th day.

The following are under the country’s red list from January 16 to 31, 2022:

Antigua and Barbuda
Aruba
Canada
Curacao
French Guiana
Iceland
Malta
Mayotte
Mozambique
Puerto Rico
Saudi Arabia
Somalia
Spain
US Virgin Islands
Green list protocols

Meanwhile, fully vaccinated travelers from green list countries, both Filipinos and foreign, will be allowed entry to the Philippines following the presentation of a negative RT-PCR test taken within 48 hours prior to their flight to the country.

The said travelers will no longer be required to undergo facility-based quarantine but they will have to self-monitor for symptoms for seven days.

Unvaccinated, partially vaccinated, or those whose vaccination status cannot be verified must also comply with the test-before-travel requirement and undergo facility-based quarantine upon their arrival to the country with another RT-PCR test taken on the fifth day.

Aside from this, the said travelers will have to self-monitor for symptoms for the remainder of the 14-day quarantine.

There are 32 countries and territories under the Philippines’ green list from January 16 until the end of the month.

Yellow list protocols

Fully vaccinated travelers from yellow list territories must present a negative RT-PCR test taken within 48 hours prior to departure from the country of origin.

They are required to undergo facility-based quarantine for seven days upon their arrival to the country with an RT-PCR test taken on the fifth day. They may be released from quarantine if the test will come out negative.

Unvaccinated, partially vaccinated, or those whose vaccination status cannot be verified must also comply with the test-before-travel requirement and undergo a complete 14-day facility-based quarantine upon their arrival to the country with an RT-PCR test taken on the seventh day.

https://mb.com.ph/2022/01/14/ph-to-remain-closed-to-foreign-tourists-under-new-arrival-quarantine-protocols/

[Jollygoodfellow]

1 hour ago, Joey G said:

I'm assuming that with so many people sick or taking of sick people, they feel it's not worth doing. I'd like to think it isn't just being lazy and not wanting to teach.  But agree, finding common sense in these decisions is getting harder.

I dont think its about being lazy. Yes a lot are sick including teachers. Many staffing problems in lots of areas now and another reason why airlines are cancelling flights. No staff.

[Jollygoodfellow]

17 minutes ago, OnMyWay said:

FOR DOMESTIC FLIGHTS:  NO VACCINATION, NO FLY (new DOTr Order) 
Effective January 17, 2022, airlines are only allowed to accept fully vaccinated passengers for carriage on our domestic flights to and from Manila. 

That's good as the unvaccinated without their own transport would be stuck at the airport now no public transport for unvaccinated. Now there placing mystery passengers to catch the unvaccinated.

Im for vaccination but they certainly make it hard for poor people who can only really on a jeepney or whatever. Going to far now.