An IATF adviser and medical expert refuted DOH Secretary Francisco Duque III’s claim the Philippines is already on the 2nd wave of virus infection, citing the country has not even flattened the COVID-19 curve yet.
“Ang first wave na alam ko ‘yung unang nag-lockdown, ‘yong community quarantine kasi ang doubling time nun mabilis,” Dr. Anthony Leachon, Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) adviser, told ABS-CBN Teleradyo.
(The first wave I know of is the first lockdown, the quarantine community because the doubling time is fast.)
“We have not yet flattened the curve eh kasi ang second wave nangyayari after na mag-flatten ka. So parang ‘yan ay experience sa Spanish influenza ng 1918, nag-flat siya tapos tsaka ka nagkaroon ng second wave,” he added.
(We have not yet flattened the curve because the second wave occurs after it was flattened. So that was the experience with the Spanish influenza of 1918, it flattened then you have a second wave.)
The doctor said it is “counter-intuitive” to lift the lockdown during the second wave of the coronavirus infection.
“Counter-intuitive na ikaw ay nag-ease ng lockdown kung tayo nasa second wave. Kaya nga tayo nag-ease ng lockdown because nag-iimprove nang kaunti itong barangays pero ‘yong ibang area hindi pa,” he said.
(It’s counter-intuitive that you ease the lockdown if we’re in the second wave. That’s why we ease the lockdown because barangays improved a little, but there are still areas that did not improve.)
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PH still in 1st, not 2nd wave of virus infection
“Kaya tayo nag-ease ng lockdown para ‘yong economy natin huminga at the same time modified [enhanced community quarantine] ‘yon. Para sa ganoon nababantayan mo pa rin ang mga tao. … Nasa first wave pa tayo,” he added.
(We eased the lockdown for our economy to breathe and at the same time, it is modified enhanced community quarantine. So you could still watch over people. We’re still in the first wave.)
Department of Health Secretary Francisco Duque III admitted yesterday the Philippines is “actually” on the second wave of virus infection.
“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,” Duque said.
(Actually, we are already in the second wave. Our first wave happened sometime in January, as our veteran epidemiologist said.)