Philippines Posts Highest Covid Positivity Rate as Cases Spike

(Bloomberg) -- Nearly one in three persons checked for Covid-19 in the Philippines tested positive, as daily infections increased about twelve times in a week possibly due to the omicron variant.

The positivity rate for coronavirus tests rose to 31.7% on Wednesday, beating a previous record of 29.7% during a delta variant surge in September, according to data from the health department. Confirmed daily infections surged to 10,775, compared with 889 a week ago. 

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Given heightened public vigilance, there’s a shortage of certain paracetamol brands in some areas, although alternative analgesics remain available, the pharmaceutical association said in a statement. The government is considering a limit to paracetamol purchases, the Philippine Daily Inquirer reported, citing Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez. 

The government placed the capital region under stricter movement restrictions this week, and told the unvaccinated to stay at home amid the likely spread of the omicron variant. The Philippines has among the lowest vaccine coverage in Southeast Asia, with less than half of the population fully inoculated. 

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