Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said the government has been well on its way to fighting the COVID-19 pandemic even as the number of cases of those affected by the virus continues to rise and the country’s economy is stranded.
Roque explained that more than 90% of COVID-19 cases in the country are mild and asymptomatic. At the same time, the death toll of more than 12,000 is said to be lower than in rich countries like America.
“We were excellent. Na-control po natin ang pagkalat ng sakit lalong-lalo na kung ikukumpara tayo sa mas mayayaman at mga bansa na mas mararami at mas moderno ang mga ospital,” Roque said.
“Hindi po tayo nasa top 5, hindi po tayo nasa 10, hindi po tayo nasa top 15, hindi tayo nasa top 20, hindi tayo nasa top 25. So we did a very good job given na talagang kulang na kulang po talaga ang ating health facilities at kulang iyong pondo na binubuhos natin para sa health sector,” Roque added.
But it is said that many will become infected and die without the vaccine.
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Roque says PH ‘excellent’ in fighting COVID-19
“We were excellent in managing it. Unfortunately, habang wala ang bakuna, talagang maraming mahahawa at mayroon pa ring mamamatay. But we have limited deaths to around 12,000, ikumpara mo naman iyan sa Estados Unidos ‘no,” he said.
“Can you imagine, America is No. 1 n terms of cases and in terms of death? Eh, wala naman sa kalingkingan nila ang ating level of spending for health at saka iyong ating technology sa ating mga hospital wala rin sa kalingkingan nila ‘no. But we managed very well, that is what I meant ‘no. It was, I think still, excellent way of managing. Let’s give credit where it is due,” Roque added.
Based on the World Health Organization dashboard, the US has recorded 519,075 COVID-19 deaths or about .15% of their 331 million population.
The Philippines, meanwhile, recorded 12,465 deaths or .53% of the 110 million population.
Aside from the death toll and economic issues, the Philippines is also lagging behind in the COVID-19 vaccination rollout in Southeast Asia that just started this March.