The total number of COVID-19 cases in the country has reached more than half a million, a year after the first COVID-19 case was recorded in the Philippines.
According to the Department of Health (DOH) this Sunday, the total number of cases reached 525,618 after the confirmation of 2,103 new cases.
But of that number, only 27,318 are considered active cases.
The DOH also reported on Sunday, 11,653 new recoveries so the total number of COVID-19 recoveries is 487,551.
Eighty died of the disease so the death toll rose to 10,749.
It was January 30 last year when the Philippines confirmed the first case of COVID-19. It was a Chinese woman from Wuhan, the city in China where the disease is believed to have originated.
One of the victims of severe COVID-19 in the country was 65-year-old Leonardo Arellano.
He still remembers the many times he almost died.
“Kapag kasi inalis ‘yong oxygen ko halos maramdaman ko parang mamamatay na ako,” said Arellano.
Also due to the pandemic, many businesses were paralyzed and millions lost their jobs, causing the country to experience its worst economic contraction since World War II.
Ordinary people are divided on the government’s response to COVID-19.
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“Matagal po ang aksyon ng gobyerno,” said taxi driver Joel Mendoza.
“Satisfied naman kasi kahit papaano may nagawa naman sialng paraan. Hindi naman nila pinabayaan nang basta-basta lang,” said motorcycle courier AJ Acta.
According to the DOH, even if the Philippines is lagging behind in vaccine procurement compared to neighboring countries, it is better to ensure its safety.
“Ginagawa po ng gobyerno ang lahat ng ating makakaya para po tayo ay magkaroon ng sufficient number of doses for our coutrymen,” said Health Spokesperson Maria Rosario Vergeire.
The Australian think tank Lowy Institute reported the Philippines ranked 79th among 98 nations when it comes to COVID-19 response.
New Zealand topped the list with a score of 94.4, followed by Vietnam (90.8), and Taiwan (86.4).
Worldwide, the number of COVID-19 victims has reached 102.6 million, of which 2.2 million have died.