MANILA/TOKYO – The Philippine Health Department is continuing its close coordination with the Japanese government for the shipment of the antiviral medication Avigan, while preparing to start the clinical trials of the potential COVID-19 drug.

TOKYO – Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Thurday committed to donate a total of US$300 million to Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance to both support its COVID-19 response as well as its work immunizing children in developing nations.

TOKYO – Japan has surpassed its target to increase COVID-19 polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing capacity to 20,000 a day.

TOKYO – The Japanese Health Ministry on Tuesday approved the use of saliva to conduct polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests for the detection of COVID-19 infections.