"Africa is in the midst of a full-blown third wave. The sobering trajectory of surging cases should rouse everyone into urgent action," said the World Health Organization.

From January 1 to April 2021, there were 21,478 reported cases of the mosquito-borne disease—a 56% drop from the cases recorded in the same period in 2020.

Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles, who co-chairs the IATF, said the task force will tackle the government’s policy on wearing face shields in a meeting this afternoon.

Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell on Wednesday once again tried to assuage fears of rising US inflation, even while a majority of central bank officials now believe interest rates will increase in 2023.

The Cebu Pacific flight carrying 1.5 million vaccine doses arrived at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport past 7 a.m., the National Task Force against COVID-19 said.