Harry Roque Receives a Covid Surprise
Bangladesh’s hot‑shot President Rodrigo Duterte had a top‑secret meeting with his trusty spokesman Harry Roque earlier this week, only for the prankmaster to learn he’s Covid‑positive.
“No Shocking First Parties!” — Roque Says
Roque told journalists that he routinely tests himself before high‑profile sit‑downs, so when the result came in on Monday he was genuinely startled.
He last met the president on Thursday, March 11, having tested negative the day before and sticking to a safe distance while chatting.
Being asymptomatic, the “high‑energy” spokesman will keep his disposition, continuing to work remotely in isolation.
Philippine Pandemic: The Numbers Don’t Lie
- Almost 10,000 new infections surfaced over the weekend, climbing the tally fast.
- Officials worry about a full lockdown comeback, but the hope is that this month’s numbers keep the hospital system breathing.
It has been exactly one year since Duterte made Manila (and the surrounding provinces) life‑slow under one of the longest lockdowns aboard the planet.
He’s gradually lifted restrictions as the economy, which had taken the ultimate hit last year, tries to recover.
Vaccination Vibes
Duterte plans to open up the economy further once the vaccines roll out for millions—especially those smack‑inside major urban spots.
- Target: 70 million out of the 108 million population.
- So far, about 193,000 people have been inoculated since the drive kicked off on March 1.
- The country has gotten over 1.1 million vaccine doses from China and the COVAX exchange.
Confirmed cases of the virus—including the new variants—now exceed 621,000, and the death count sits above 12,800.
Stay Informed & Stay Safe
For the latest updates, keep your eyes peeled and your mask handy—the fight’s far from over.
