The 2021 election stoked division as only descendants of Qataris who were citizens in 1930 were eligible to vote and run
mena2 hours ago
Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte said on Thursday people who have not taken Covid-19 shots will be arrested if they disobeyed stay-at-home orders as infections hit a three-month high.
Duterte in an televised address to the nation said he was asking community leaders to look for unvaccinated people and make sure they were confined to their homes.
“If he refuses, if he goes out his house and goes around the community, he can be restrained. If he refuses, the captain is empowered now to arrest recalcitrant persons,” Duterte said.
Daily coronavirus infections in the Philippines hit the highest since Sept. 26 at 17,220 cases on Thursday, the health ministry said, including those caused by the Omicron variant of Covid-19.
The tally, which was more than triple recorded on Tuesday brought total cases to over 2.88 million, and deaths to more than 51,700, the second highest Covid-19 infections and casualties in Southeast Asia, next to Indonesia.
“I am responsible for the safety and well being of every Filipino,” Duterte said as he challenged those who disapprove of his directive to file a case against him.
At the end of last year, 49.8 million people had been fully vaccinated, or 45% of the country’s 110 million people. Under existing rules unvaccinated people in the capital region of Manila can only step out of their homes for essential trips.
ALSO READ:
Duterte is known for his bellicose rhetoric. Last year, he threatened people who refuse to get inoculated with jail or an injection of Ivermectin, an anti-parasite drug widely used to treat animals.
But his latest remarks underscored his government’s growing concerns over the rising number of Covid-19 cases which health experts warn could overwhelm the country’s health systems again.
The Philippines has so far detected 43 domestic and imported cases of Omicron, prompting the government to tighten curbs this week.
The 2021 election stoked division as only descendants of Qataris who were citizens in 1930 were eligible to vote and run
mena2 hours ago
Tehran says it is the first time Russia has launched privately built Iranian satellites
europe2 hours ago
Most companies are facing a serious skill gap as enough professionals are not available
business2 hours ago
The attacker, a security guard, is on the run while no one has claimed responsibility
asia2 hours ago
While the UAE introduced a 9 per cent corporate income tax in 2023, Oman has proposed to levy income tax on the rich
business3 hours ago
Four notable listings completed since the end of the quarter across a diverse range of sectors
markets3 hours ago
After a nine-month trial, the High Court found the duo guilty of stabbing the 34-year-old steeplechaser to death
africa3 hours ago
The programme helps the needy who have not previously performed the pilgrimage
uae3 hours ago