Covid curbs in Manila to stay ‘until vaccinations’

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte will maintain the current level of coronavirus restrictions in the capital Manila until mass vaccinations start, his spokesman said yesterday, despite calls to ease curbs and revive the country’s ailing economy.

The Philippines, among the fastest growing economies in Asia before the pandemic, saw its gross domestic product slump by a record 9.5% in 2020, as one of the world’s longest and strictest Covid-19 lockdowns shuttered thousands of businesses and left millions out of work.

“The chief executive recognises the importance of reopening the economy and its impact on people’s livelihoods. However, the president gives higher premium to public health and safety,” spokesman Harry Roque said in a statement. The restrictions in Manila, the epicentre of the Philippine epidemic, were set to end this month but will be extended until the mass vaccination drive is underway.

Roque said earlier yesterday that the vaccination drive would kick off with 600,000 doses of Sinovac Biotech vaccines donated by China, which should arrive later this month.

The Philippines has been talking to seven vaccine makers to try to ensure sufficient supplies for more than two-thirds of its 108mn population.

Its Food and Drug Administration (FDA) yesterday granted emergency use authorisation for the Sinovac vaccine, CoronaVac.

However, health workers will not get the jab due to its comparatively low efficacy. CoronaVac is the third vaccine approved for emergency use in the country, but so far none have been delivered and President Rodrigo Duterte’s government is under fire over the delayed rollout.

Beijing has agreed to donate 600,000 doses, which will arrive in the next three to five days, officials said – despite misgivings over its safety and effectiveness.

“It is decided... that the benefit of using the vaccine outweighs the known and potential risks,” said Eric Domingo, head of the Food and Drug Administration.