The new year is up to a bleak start in the Philippines as new COVID-19 cases hit its highest since October 30 amid a resurgence of the coronavirus in the country following a lull that saw new infections reach 19-month lows.

Fewer Filipinos were injured from firecrackers as they marked the coming of the new year, according to the Department of Health.

Independent projections forecast that new COVID-19 cases may hit 4,000 on New Year’s Day while the peak of this new spike in infections, which is suspected to be driven by the more infectious Omicron variant, might surpass the Delta wave.

The number of people with COVID-19 who are admitted at the Philippine General Hospital has nearly tripled in the six days between Christmas and New Year’s Eve, according to the hospital’s spokesperson.

Four more individuals got injured from fireworks ahead of the New Year celebrations, bringing the total to 30, data from the Department of Health showed yesterday.

The Department of Science and Technology will work with the country’s foremost industry association of coconut processors to get virgin coconut oil approved for indications for mild COVID-19 cases by the Food and Drug Administration.

President Duterte has not vetoed significant items in the 2022 national budget, according to Department of Budget and Management officer-in-charge Tina Canda.

The total number of fatalities from Typhoon Odette in the Visayas and Mindanao has now reached 405 with at least 82 persons still missing and 1,147 injured, according to the latest report from the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Counc...

Metro Manila will go to the more strict Alert Level 3 from January 3 to January 15, 2022, the Palace said Friday evening.

According to the DOH, over a third of the cases occurred in Western Visayas.