DOH expressed hope that the Philippines will not experience India-like surge of COVID-19 cases.
The Department of Health (DOH) expressed hope that the Philippines will not experience the same surge of coronavirus cases that hit India amidst growing concerns on the Delta COVID-19 variant.
On Tuesday, Health Undersecretary and treatment czar Leopoldo “Bong” Vega said during the Presidential press briefing that the implementation of ECQ (enhanced community quarantine) will help curb the increasing number of coronavirus cases.
According to Vega, they knew that they imposed the ECQ early and this was a preemptive response and they hoped that the virus transmission can be stalled or prevented so as not to overwhelm the healthcare system capacity.
Vega also noted an increase in coronavirus cases in Ilocos, Central Luzon, Cagayan Valley, Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, and Quezon), Metro Manila, Western Visayas, Northern Mindanao, Central Visayas, and Davao region.
READ ALSO: ECQ Extension In Metro Manila “Possible” — DOH
He said that the spike in coronavirus cases was also the reason why the healthcare utilization was increasing and the healthcare utilization in Metro Manila was already at the threshold of moderate risk.
Vega added that additional medical equipment were distributed to some hospitals. Moreover, Vega said that they’re ready to help all hospitals that need other resources or manpower in order to help them serve their critically ill patients.
Meanwhile, Vice President Leni Robredo encouraged the government to ramp up its testing and to aim for one million COVID-19 vaccinations per day amidst the emergence of the Delta variant in the Philippines.
Robredo told CNN Philippines in an interview that the government’s testing was still around 50,000 despite the 21% positivity rate in the Philippines.
She also said that the “worst thing” that can happen was when the undetected Delta COVID-19 variant carriers roamed around and infected more people.
For more news and updates, you may feel free to visit this site more often. You may also visit Newspapers.ph via our official Facebook page and YouTube channel.