Duterte says COVID-19 crisis in PH ‘not so bad’

President Duterte said Thursday the COVID-19 crisis in the Philippines is not so bad as he eased community quarantine measures in the country. 

In a televised public address to the public, Duterte said the number of virus infections is now 15,588, but he noted that the fatality rate is low so far. 

ADVERTISEMENT

Department of Health also reported 92 new recoveries, bringing the total to 3,598 as of May 28.

“Ang patay po is 921 (The deaths reached 921), so you would see that Philippines has ratio and proportion vis-à-vis with the population, we have a low rate of mortality here in this country,” the President said.

The President said the country has a total of 11,069 active cases, including 330 in Metro Manila, 55 in Region 7, 99 from other regions, and 55 repatriates.

ADVERTISEMENT

“All in all, para sa akin, hindi naman masama ito (All in all, for me, this is not so bad),” Duterte said.

The President also approved the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases’ recommendation to put the National Capital Region and other provinces in Central Luzon under general community quarantine. 

Also read: Survey: 6 out 10 Filipinos hesitant work again amid COVID-19 threat

ADVERTISEMENT

COVID-19 crisis in PH ‘not so bad’

Metro Manila, Regions 2, 3, and 4-A, Pangasinan, Albay, and Davao City will be placed under GCQ starting June 1 while the rest of the country will be on modified GCQ.

DOH earlier reported 593 cases, the highest number of infections in one day, that brought the total to 15,588.

Health Secretary Francisco Duque III that the spike in coronavirus cases was due to the increase of the number of infections DOH has validated. Duque added the testing laboratories could now submit results faster using automated systems. 

“Tumaas man po ang ating kaso, pero sa pangkalahatan naman ang mild cases po natin ay nasa 90 percent, at 7.3 percent naman ang asymptomatic, ‘yung wala pong nararamdaman na sakit; at less than two percent naman po ang severe to critical cases,” Duque said.

(Our cases may have increased, but overall, 90 percent are mild cases, 7.3 percent are asymptomatic, or those who do not have symptoms, and less than two percent are severe to critical cases.)

A research group from the University of the Philippines meanwhile said there are at least 7,000 unreported COVID-19 cases in the country. They also urged the government further to extend MECQ in Metro Manila and other high-risk areas.