Duque admits PH ‘actually’ on second wave of virus infection

Department of Education Secretary Francisco Duque III admitted the Philippines is “actually” on the second wave of virus infection. 

Duque made the revelation during the Senate hearing on the government’s COVID-19 response.

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Senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. questioned Duque regarding the government’s plan should the second wave of COVID-19 infections hit the Philippines. 

“Palagi pong nababanggit ‘yung second wave of infections, paano po ba natin masasabi na nasa second wave na tayo? Considering the doomsday scenario being painted ‘pag nagkaroon na ng second wave, ano po ang dapat natin gawin para hindi tayo dumating sa puntong ‘yon,” Revilla said.

(The second wave of infections is always mentioned. How can we say we are in the second wave? Considering the doomsday scenario being painted, once there’s a second wave, what should we do to not get to that point?)

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Duque, however, said: “Actually nasa second wave tayo, ‘yung first wave natin nagumpisa, batay po ito sa ating mag batikang epidemiologist, na ang first wave natin happened sometime in January.”

(Actually, we are already in the second wave. Our first wave happened sometime in January, as our veteran epidemiologist said.)

Also read: PH COVID-19 vaccination plan to prioritize elderly, vulnerable-Palace

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PH now on second wave of virus infection

“Nung nagkaroon po tayo ng tatlong kaso ng mga Chinese nationals from Wuhan. ‘Yun po ay kinikilalang first wave. Maliit lang na wave,” Duque explained.

(When we had the first three cases of Chinese nationals from Wuhan, that’s our recognized first wave. Just a small wave.)

“Pero ngayon nasa second wave tayo at ginagawa po natin ang lahat para nga ma-flatten yung epidemic curve at para nang sa ganon ay magkaron po tayo ng sapat na panahon na mapaunland ta maitaas ang ating kakayahan sa sistemang pangkalusugan. Ramping up the health system’s capacity,” he added.

(But now we are already in the second wave, and we are doing everything to flatten the epidemic curve so we could have enough time to improve our health system capacity. Ramping up the health system’s capacity.)

Dr. John Wong, the epidemiologist of the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases, earlier warned that there could be a 3rd wave of coronavirus infections after the government lifts lockdown.