DoH downplays PH tag as Covid ‘epicenter’ in Southeast Asia

THE Department of Health downplayed reports that the Philippines was now the epicenter of the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) in Southeast Asia.

READ: PH now Covid epicenter in Southeast Asia

Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said the public should be cautious in comparing the numbers with other countries, as the Philippines’ response was different from neighboring states.

The Philippines has recorded 119,460 cases, overtaking Indonesia’s 118,753, The total number of active cases in the country is at 50,473.

Vergeire told reporters in a media forum on Friday that while the comparison with other countries was okay, other factors should be considered, such as the number of infected people per a million population.

She cited Singapore, saying that while its Covid count is low, its cases per million population is at 9,000 which is higher than the Philippines 1,000 cases per million.

Vergeire said the country was continuing to strengthen its efforts in fighting the pandemic through its implementation of the Coordinated Operations to Defeat the Epidemic (CODE) protocol and the One Hospital Command projects.

She said that patients can be treated in any healthcare facility outside of the infected region if its hospitals are full.

Source: TheManila Times