The World Health Organization said on Saturday that it was discontinuing its trials of the malaria drug hydroxychloroquine, and combination HIV drug lopinavir/ritonavir, in hospitalized patients with coronavirus disease 2019 or COVID-19 after the drugs failed to reduce mortality.

With the fiscal deficit expected to widen and the government under pressure to give subsidies to distressed sectors, some senators are eyeing the imposition of taxes on so-called junk food to raise funds for easing the economic impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic.

The Department of Health yesterday reported 2,434 new coronavirus disease 2019 cases – the highest in a single day, bringing the total number of COVID-19 infections in the country to 44,254.

The increase in xenophobic language directed toward migrants, including overseas Filipino workers , has prompted a group of jurists, United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and the Office of the Resident Coordinator to launch a media campaign countering xenophobic rhetoric falsely blaming the spread of coronavirus disease 2019 on migrant workers.

Forty-five more personnel of the Metro Rail Transit Line 3 have tested positive for the coronavirus disease 2019, bringing to 172 the number of MRT-3 workers infected with COVID-19, the Department of Transportation announced yesterday.