General Info

[Mahku]

I'm writing a personal letter to Brother Kim to expedite my North Korean passport application. And congratulations to the illustrious brother leader for his success against this pandemic.

[WestCoast1]

More vax stats, from the US CDC. See graphic. From a large sample, your chances of dying from Covid are this much greater for unvaccinated vs vaccinated in these age categories:

Age -- Increased risk for unvaccinated.

80+ ---- 5 x.

65-79 -- 15 x.

50-64 -- 22 x.

30-49 -- 30 x.

18-29 -- 54 x.

12-17 -- 5 x.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/age-still...090059106.html

From the article:

Data: CDC; Note: Data represents 30% of Americans across 16 jurisdictions: Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, Nebraska, New Mexico, New York City, Seattle/King County, Wash., Utah and Wisconsin; Chart: Danielle Alberti/Axios

[Soapy Smith]

I'm not starting a vaccine debate. Just looking at the absurdity of it all.

Did they ever find the corpses of those four British Airways pilots that died of covid?

[Wicked Roger]

Some of the countries on the green list defy credulity. Makes you wonder if inclusion in the list is based on the countries' own reported case numbers. So, if a country's testing and reporting are non-existent, they get a pass onto the green list. The only other explanation for some of the African countries (where vaccination rates are very low) might be that covid seems to hit colder climate countries more severely.

And who from those countries can either afford to fly to the Philippines, stay in hotels etc? Mostly are poor countries or like in the Falklands far to far away to even warrant a worry about LOL.

But as many of these places remain high risk Covid (and low vax rates) and are not allowed to enter parts of Europe etc then we could easily see a spike in cases in the Philippines if crowds of Algerians, Samoans, etc flood the country looking for a fun time LOL.

[SpirouleGroom]

Some of the countries on the green list defy credulity. Makes you wonder if inclusion in the list is based on the countries' own reported case numbers. So, if a country's testing and reporting are non-existent, they get a pass onto the green list. The only other explanation for some of the African countries (where vaccination rates are very low) might be that covid seems to hit colder climate countries more severely.

God. You are still attempting to find any logic in those political 'decisions' ?

Let's explore the wonderful new world order of back to normal shall we?

Japan: Pfizered can get in. If they go through a quarantine of 10 days instead of 14 days + PCR test twice. Guess they don't really trust the Pfizer inoculation.

Colombia: no vaccine required and no PCR test. Guess they don't give a shit anymore.

Argentina and Uruguay: only fully vaccined can get in in November. Guess the virus can't go through the border from Colombia.

Europe: the big chunk of full logic. J&J and Zeneca almost non existent. Sputnik still banned. North European countries just walked away from Moderna. But the European drug agency (where they take orders directly from Pfizer headquarters) stated that the third dose of Pfizer is recommended. But Moderna is an ARN messager like Pfizer.

Africa continent? Saved by the weather. I don't know. I remember numerous apocalyptic scenarios from the medias 6 month ago. Oh, they have been on hcq for decades, this horrific mainstream cheap medicine that can kill you. Guess there is no correlation. ABC news was wondering how Japan have managed to end the epidemic in a matter of weeks since September while the government green lighted again ivermectin in Sept. After having banned it under labs pressure.

Bottom line, nothing makes any sense. Considering the Philippines was a chaotic state before Covid let's assume that it's a very far fetch expectation that things would come back to normal in the next decade.

I'm not starting a vaccine debate. Just looking at the absurdity of it all.

[Stykler]

Some of the countries on the green list defy credulity. Makes you wonder if inclusion in the list is based on the countries' own reported case numbers. So, if a country's testing and reporting are non-existent, they get a pass onto the green list. The only other explanation for some of the African countries (where vaccination rates are very low) might be that covid seems to hit colder climate countries more severely.

I suspect that some countries on the Green List have supplied some of the green stuff to a number of officials to be honest. It's the only way they could be on it.

[Soapy Smith]

Included in the Green List are Algeria, American Samoa, Bhutan, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Cayman Islands, Chad, China (Mainland), Comoros, Republic of the Congo, Cook Islands, Eritrea, Falkland Islands (Malvinas), Gibraltar, Hong Kong (Special Administrative Region of China), Kiribati, Madagascar, Mali, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Montserrat, Nauru, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Niue, North Korea, Northern Mariana Islands, Palau, Poland, Saba (Special Municipality of the Kingdom of the Netherlands), Saint Helena, Saint Pierre and Miquelon, Samoa, Sierra Leone, Sint Eustatius, Solomon Islands, Sudan, Syria, Taiwan, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Tokelau, Tonga, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu and Yemen.

https://philippineslifestyle.com/bi-...allowed-in-ph/

Some of the countries on the green list defy credulity. Makes you wonder if inclusion in the list is based on the countries' own reported case numbers. So, if a country's testing and reporting are non-existent, they get a pass onto the green list. The only other explanation for some of the African countries (where vaccination rates are very low) might be that covid seems to hit colder climate countries more severely.

[Mdemde]

Great news, right?

It's another step in the right direction.

The lockdown restrictions and ban on entry for foreign tourists can't last forever. As we all know it's been more than a year and a half since the first lockdown was imposed last year, and many millions of Filipinos are still out of work, seeking deeper and deeper into poverty.

As to when all lockdown restrictions will be lifted and the face-shield and mask mandates will be scrapped, and as to when the ban on entry for foreign tourists will be lifted, we can only speculate.

[WestCoast1]

Despite these travel restrictions, we remain hopeful that international travel will be safely revived soon, said Morente. Last week, Malacaang announced fully vaccinated travelers arriving in the Philippines are no longer required to undergo mandatory quarantine in a facility. However, presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said travelers must present a negative result from a COVID-19 RT-PCR test 72 hours before their departure from their country of origin. They are also required to undergo home quarantine for 14 days.

Great news, right?

Most of the tourist oriented countries are looking at USA and European countries about relaxing their own Covid rules and restrictions. USA is allowing foreigners starting November with negative test for only vaccinated travelers.

Speaking of: https://www.huffpost.com/entry/cdc-m...b06573572f799a. From the article:

The CDCs updated guidance came shortly after the White House said travel restrictions into the U.S. will be lifted Nov. 8, capping a nearly 21-month stretch that barred unrestricted visitation from China, Canada, Mexico and Europe, as well as many other places. The measures, first enacted in March 2020 as the COVID-19 pandemic began to hammer the country, eviscerated the tourism industry and kept many families apart for nearly two years.

I am looking for the days where fully vaccinated requirements should only be the benchmark for travel and no testing.

We are all looking for those days, but that would indicate pandemic over. I will PM you.

[Mdemde]

Does anyone have the latest information regarding entry into the Philippines?

I'm fully jabbed from the UK.

This news story was published online this morning, link below;.

BI clarifies entry of alien tourists not yet allowed in PH

By Margret Fermin -October 18, 2021

The Bureau of Immigration (BI) clarified that foreign tourists are not yet allowed to enter the Philippines despite coming from green list countries.

In a statement, BI Commissioner Jaime Morente reiterated that only Filipinos, balikbayan, and those with valid and existing long term visas from green and yellow list countries are allowed to enter.

He said the reiteration came as the Bureau received numerous queries from foreign tourists who wish to fly to the Philippines already.

Morente added that Filipinos coming from red list countries may return via repatriation flights and bayanihan flights organized by government or non-government agencies.

On Friday, the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-MEID) released an updated list of Red, Green and Yellow List counries.

Said lists are effective starting October 16, 2021 up to October 31, 2021.

Romania has been classified under Red List, while 49 countries have been placed under the green list.

Included in the Green List are Algeria, American Samoa, Bhutan, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Cayman Islands, Chad, China (Mainland), Comoros, Republic of the Congo, Cook Islands, Eritrea, Falkland Islands (Malvinas), Gibraltar, Hong Kong (Special Administrative Region of China), Kiribati, Madagascar, Mali, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Montserrat, Nauru, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Niue, North Korea, Northern Mariana Islands, Palau, Poland, Saba (Special Municipality of the Kingdom of the Netherlands), Saint Helena, Saint Pierre and Miquelon, Samoa, Sierra Leone, Sint Eustatius, Solomon Islands, Sudan, Syria, Taiwan, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Tokelau, Tonga, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu and Yemen.

The IATF-MEID said that all other countries not mentioned are classified under the Yellow List.

The testing and quarantine protocols of those arriving under these lists, according to the IATF-MEID, shall be implemented and monitored by the Bureau of Quarantine.

Despite these travel restrictions, we remain hopeful that international travel will be safely revived soon, said Morente.

Last week, Malacaang announced fully vaccinated travelers arriving in the Philippines are no longer required to undergo mandatory quarantine in a facility.

However, presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said travelers must present a negative result from a COVID-19 RT-PCR test 72 hours before their departure from their country of origin.

They are also required to undergo home quarantine for 14 days.

https://philippineslifestyle.com/bi-...allowed-in-ph/

[Sammon]

Does anyone have the latest information regarding entry into the Philippines?

I'm fully jabbed from the UK.

Most of the tourist oriented countries are looking at USA and European countries about relaxing their own Covid rules and restrictions. USA is allowing foreigners starting November with negative test for only vaccinated travelers. Thailand is also opening with restrictions for the moment. Philippines is looking at how other countries do before they open up. I am guessing pre testing before entry will be here for foreseeable future. Quarantine will go away for vaccinated people.

Problem is if anyone tests positive. All rules state that it will be compulsory quarantine for 14 days or at least till one tests negative couple of times. This has happened to many people who went on vacation only to be confined at one's own expense. At the moment it is hard to plan anything.

I am looking for the days where fully vaccinated requirements should only be the benchmark for travel and no testing.

[Fun Times69]

Does anyone have the latest information regarding entry into the Philippines?

I'm fully jabbed from the UK.

[Soapy Smith]

I'd love to hear from some of our intrepid members currently in the Philippines: what is the state of vaccine resistance among Filipinos, and what seem to be their arguments?

[Soapy Smith]

Enjoyed the last one, PBS / 1000 cuts. However, it doesn't discount the lying nature of pinoys (it might show the exceptions to the rule). Good work SS, food for thought.

Filipinos do lie. It's a cultural thing. My point was simply that ISG reports rarely find anything positive to say about the Philippines, aside from ready access to cheap sex. Maria Ressa is a bright spot; I know there are others but reports of this sort are seen as tangential to ISG. The PBS film actually emphasized the fabricated social media memes--lies, essentially. I'm glad we don't have to put up with any of that in the states.

[Bushes]

IMHO, the little video is much easier and understand and effortlessly crosses language and cultural barriers.

Covid is harder to understand. Especially the significance of gain of function research / proposals.

Many Covid cases and not diagnosed. Even in the beginning and even now. Many of the children and vaccinated do not show symptoms. There are some estimates of 16 times actual Covid cases versus reported cases.

The vaccine is not stopping the Covid spread but is slowing down death and hospitalizations. Pretty soon, things will be back to normal as restrictions are lowered and Covid is allowed to spread. The unvaccinated will be in deep shxt soon. Australia, US, New Zealand, UK, Singapore, Bali, Thailand and many other countries and going away from zero Covid strategy and opening up.

Hahaha that's great.

Memory challenged is a big problem. For the non Covid variety, this might help remind people of what comes from these beautiful islands.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-WNMSo-sfAk