#member of provincial p... wait a minute

[release-the-sheep]

both captains have such excellent confused faces and use them to such great effect

[phgq]

More frontline health workers in SoCot line up to get vaccines

#PHnews: More frontline health workers in SoCot line up to get vaccines

GENERAL SANTOS CITY – More frontline health care workers in South Cotabato province have signified to get inoculated with the Sinovac vaccine as its rollout went on full swing in the area on Monday.

Dr. Conrado Braña, chief of the South Cotabato Provincial Hospital (SCPH), said they received numerous requests among identified priority health workers for inclusion in the list of recipients in the week-long vaccination drive.

Earlier, he said only 291 of the facility’s over 500 personnel initially agreed to receive the vaccines as some opted to wait for its rollout first.

But, he said such number has so far increased and they expect that more will signify to be inoculated before the end of the vaccination period on March 14.

“We’re getting positive feedback among our workers and they are excited to get the vaccines,” he told the Philippine News Agency.

SCPH, which is based in Koronadal City, received last Saturday from the Department of Health-Region 12 a total of 667 doses of Sinovac vaccines donated by China out of the 1,838 allotted for the five referral hospitals for coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) patients in the province.

Some 358 doses were delivered to Dr. Arturo P. Pingoy Medical Center and 335 to Allah Valley Medical Specialists Center in Koronadal City; 282 to Howard Hubbard Memorial Hospital in Polomolok town; and 196 to Soccsksargen General Hospital in Surallah.

The vaccination of SCPH workers formally started past 9 a.m. Monday, with medical officer Dr. Bryan Non getting the first shot.

Non, who is an advocate of Covid-19 vaccines, said he is hoping that more of his fellow frontline health care workers will be convinced to also get inoculated against the disease.

He said he carefully studied the Sinovac vaccine based on the results of the clinical trials and it is guaranteed to be safe, with lesser chances for recipients to get allergic reactions.

“It is 100 percent effective in preventing severe cases of Covid-19. So if a vaccine can achieve that and prevent death, then it is effective,” he told reporters.

He urged residents to trust the available vaccines distributed to other countries, including those being provided by the national government, and should get inoculated if they are eligible.

Hannah Ebeo, health education and promotion officer of the South Cotabato Integrated Provincial Health Office, said the vaccination of the priority frontline health workers in the four other Covid-19 referral hospitals started Monday morning.

“This is a simultaneous activity and will continue for seven days,” she said in an interview.

She said they are targeting to inoculate at least 100 individuals per day in each of the vaccination sites.

The acceptance of the Sinovac vaccine is reportedly high in the other referral hospitals in the province, with one facility convincing 90 percent of its workers to get vaccinated.

In this city, the rollout of the Sinovac vaccines started Monday morning with Dr. Ryan Aplicador, the deputy incident commander of the City Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging and Re-emerging Infectious Diseases and also chief of Dr. Jorge P. Royeca Hospital (DJPRH), getting the first shot.

Aplicador said he did not experience any adverse effects from the vaccine during the 30-minute to one-hour observation period.

A total of 670 medical professionals and staff members of DJPRH, one of the six Covid-19 referral hospitals in the city, were prioritized to get the Sinovac vaccines.

Also eligible are 697 workers from the St. Elizabeth Hospital, 527 from General Santos Doctor’s Hospital, 521 from Socsargen County Hospital, 380 from Mindanao Medical Center, and 343 from GenSan Medical Center. (with report from Richelyn Gubalani/PNA)  

   ***

References:

* Philippine News Agency. "More frontline health workers in SoCot line up to get vaccines." Philippine News Agency. https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1132898 (accessed March 08, 2021 at 10:39PM UTC+14).

* Philippine News Agency. "More frontline health workers in SoCot line up to get vaccines." Archive Today. https://archive.ph/?run=1&url=https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1132898 (archived).

[raincityathletics]

COVID19 - 2 Week Ban on Group Fitness Classes

Coach Thor here - please take 5 minutes to read and thoroughly review EVERYTHING below. Yes I ramble but that’s what happens when you’ve got 24 hours to re-adjust everything! Sorry not sorry :P 

As you all know / have read there’s been a Provincially mandated shut down of all group class facilities for the next 2 weeks in order to curve the COVID-19 spike in cases before things get out of control.

This shut down is primarily focused on spin / yoga / boutique studios who have contributed to the spike in cases. For the next 2 weeks we will be shifting our model to follow a ‘globo gym’ individual access model (aka open gym).

Before I review the changes & updates made for the next 2 weeks, I want to remind you that we are still moving forward with our MASKS MANDATORY OUTSIDE YOUR WORKOUT BOX policy update:

Mask Policy Changes Starting Monday Nov 9th

Athletes who arrive without a mask will be forced to purchase a disposable mask for $2 OR will not be allowed to enter the facility (and all no-show policies apply - www.rncty.ca/no-show)

Athletes MUST wear their mask anytime they are outside of their workout box, this includes but is not limited to:

Entering and exiting the facility 

Going to the bathroom 

Getting or putting away equipment 

Waiting in the lounge / locker area

The only acceptable time for an athlete to not wear a mask is if they are on their way out or in as part of running in the prescribed workout of the day.

This means if there is no prescribed running in the days workout and you’re choosing to add it - you will be required to wear a mask when running in and/or out.

Failure to follow these new protocols result in your immediate eviction from your session. We will give NO lenience on this. The coach will ask you to leave immediately and any resistance will result in the cancellation of your membership.

Now that that’s out of the way, here’s what has changed temporarily for the next 2 weeks (above rules are permanent).

Temporary Schedule Updates to Individual Access

All [FF] Group Classes have been cancelled for 2 weeks  

[COVID] Individual Access blocks with limited capacity will be offered in their place 

These are accessible to [FF] and [SPRT] Memberships

There will be NO drop-ins allowed from non Raincity members / regulars - in order to ensure we maintain our highest standard of cleanliness & all prior protocols 

1-2 Coaches will be available at all times to: 

Answer questions regarding the days workout

Start / stop / setup clocks

Ensure all COVID-19 protocols are adequately followed 

[COVID] Individual Access Schedule

5 people per scheduled revolving blocks spaced out by 30-60 minutes

Temporary Reserving & Cancellation Changes

Due to the rapidly changing environment we have temporarily adjusted reservation & cancellation windows. 

Reservations open 24 hours in advance of class up until 10 minutes prior 

Cancellations must be made 2 hours in advance - all no-show policies still apply (www.rncty.ca/no-show)

What You’re Seeing in Zenplanner

[COVID] Individual Access - ANNEX 

Reserve a workout box on the Annex side 

[COVID] Individual Access - OG

Reserve a workout box on the OG side

[COVID] Individual Access - OG LOW CEILING

These are ‘low ceiling’ overflow space available during peak times on the OG

Athletes in these spaces will NOT be able to:

Put loaded barbells overhead (if you’re 5′8 or taller)

Wallballs

Kipping pullups (strict ok) 

If you do not need any of these things - we request you prioritize booking one of these spaces

[COVID] Coach 

The coach available to you for questions / assistance etc. 

Other Adjustments & Expectations

We are updating the programming for the next 2 weeks to make it easier for RAthletes to follow on their own

Workouts are visible 48 hours prior - feel free to email info@raincityathletics.ca in advance of your class with any questions re: modifications etc! 

Though it’s ‘open gym’ we highly encourage athletes to follow the program as written in SugarWOD

This is the first week of a new cycle, so it’s important to get your benchmarks logged for the remaining weeks after these temporary changes 

Read more about the strength cycle

Though coaches will be available to answer questions, they will be prioritizing those completing the programmed workout of the day as opposed to choosing to do their own thing

Thank you!

Thank you for your patience as we do our best to make any / all adjustments needed to stay open. I’m sure there will be more changes coming, so I thank you in advance for your understanding with whatever we have to do in a pinch!

As always feel free to reach out to me personally or the info account with thoughts, feedback, etc. Though I love a good ‘thank you’ email or message - we’ve got a lot to deal with right now, so if you’re feeling grateful I’d love a review on our Facebook / Google / Wherever else Raincity is online <3 (I can’t link or I get in trouble).

Sincerely,  Thor & the whole Raincity team

[release-the-sheep]

MAIS OUI C'EST ÇAAAAAA

[phgq]

PCG officer to receive IMO award for ‘exceptional bravery’

#PHnews: PCG officer to receive IMO award for ‘exceptional bravery’

MANILA – An off-duty officer of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) who saved 62 lives and his own aboard MV Siargao Princess in Cebu in November 2019 will be recognized for his exceptional bravery at sea by the International Maritime Organization (IMO).

In a message, the PCG said Probationary Ensign (P/Ens) Ralph Ofalla Barajan will be the first recipient of the IMO Award for Exceptional Bravery at Sea from the PCG.

It said Barajan will formally receive the award on Wednesday (Oct. 14) during the 119th founding anniversary of the PCG.

“The IMO Award for Exceptional Bravery at Sea is an annual international recognition for individuals who performed acts of exceptional bravery – risking their own lives to ensure the safety of life at sea, or to prevent or mitigate marine environmental damages,” the PCG said in a press release issued on Monday.

The decision to bestow the award on Barajan, it said, was made by the IMO panel of judges, led by IMO Secretary-General Kitack Lim, after being nominated by Philippine Ambassador to the United Kingdom Antonio Lagdameo.

PCG Commandant, Admiral George Ursabia Jr., commended Barajan for his selflessness and for being a “perfect demonstration of the Coast Guard service”.

“P/Ens Barajan’s display of courage, determination, and presence of mind which led to the successful rescue of 62 victims, including himself is indeed worthy of emulation and respect for him, his family, and for the PCG,” Ursabia said.

According to a narrative that formed part of the Barajan’s nomination to the IMO, MV Siargao Princess departed Catagbacan Port in Loon, Bohol at 9:30 a.m. on Nov. 7, 2019 en route to Poblacion, in Sibonga, Cebu with 55 passengers, Barajan, and seven crew members.

While in transit, the ship encountered waves about two meters high and resulted in the flooding of the vessel.

Barajan was awakened by panicking fellow passengers at around 11:05 a.m., after which he immediately informed Coast Guard Sub-Station Bato and Coast Guard Station Southern Cebu regarding their situation and requested assistance.

While waiting for rescue, he helped distribute lifejackets to the passengers, instructed them to stay calm and seated to maintain vessel stability, and sought the assistance of crew members for the provision of lifejackets to children onboard.

Less than 10 minutes before the ship sank, the ship captain declared abandon ship after being convinced by Barajan as the best option given the gravity of the situation.

Barajan guided passengers on how to safely jump off the vessel one at a time and he jumped off last after ensuring that no one was left behind.

While floating at sea and waiting for rescue, he tied the lifejackets of passengers and crew members in groups to increase their security.

“Said effort allowed the personnel of BRP Suluan (MRRV-4406) to easily locate the victims on the water, thereby contributing to the swift conduct of rescue operations. All passengers and crew members were declared safe aboard BRP Suluan (MRRV-4406),” the PCG said.

Aside from the IMO and PCG, Barajan was also recognized by the Office of the Presidential Assistant for Central Visayas, Provincial Government of Bohol, De La Paz Barangay Council, Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council Office, Boy Scouts of the Philippines, Alpha Phi Omega Internationals Inc., Alpha Phi Omega Philippines Inc., Basic Education Department, and the College of Health Sciences of the Holy Name University. (PNA)

***

References:

* Philippine News Agency. "PCG officer to receive IMO award for ‘exceptional bravery’." Philippine News Agency. https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1118295 (accessed October 13, 2020 at 03:46AM UTC+14).

* Philippine News Agency. "PCG officer to receive IMO award for ‘exceptional bravery’." Archive Today. https://archive.ph/?run=1&url=https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1118295 (archived).