Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said Tuesday the public should not be alarmed at the increasing number of COVID-19 cases in the Philippines since the death toll remained low.
“Hindi naman po dapat ikabahala ng tuluyan itong numerong ito… dahil kakaunti lang po ang nagkakasakit ng severe or accute,” Roque said in his regular televised briefing Tuesday.
(We should not be alarmed by these numbers because there are very few severe or acute cases.)
Department of Health Tuesday reported 1,678 new cases bringing the total to 83,673. The COVID-19 death toll is now at 1,947, while recoveries are at 26,617.
The Palace official refuted the claims of Senator Franklin Drilon that the government failed to address the COVID-19 crisis adequately.
“Hindi kami sumasang-ayon sa sinasabi ni Senator (Franklin) Drilon. Dahil kung tayo ay pumalpak ng gaya ng sinasabi niya, nagkatotoo po sana yung forecast ng UP na 3.5 million ngayon ang may sakit. Sabi pa nga nung isang think tank, 20 million dapat ngayon ang may sakit… Hindi ba ‘yan pruweba na meron tayong mga hakbang na ginawa na tama?” Roque said.
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(We do not agree with what Senator Drilon is saying. Because if we failed, like what he claimed, the UP forecast of 3.5 million cases would have happened. One think tank even said we would have 20 million cases. Isn’t that proof that we have taken corrective measures?)
Roque added that while new COVID-19 cases are increasing, the data from the past two weeks show that new cases seem to have plateaued.
“Bagama’t tumataas ang kaso ng bagong COVID na nagkakasakit, yung suma total naman po ng lumipas na dalawang linggo ay nagpapakita na parang nagpa-plateau po ang mga bagong kaso, at least dito sa lumipas na dalawang linggo,” he said.
(Although the number of new COVID cases is increasing, the sum of the total of the past two weeks shows that the new cases seem to have plateaued.)
The country’s case doubling rate is now at 8.6 days.
The University of the Philippines (UP) earlier projected 130,000 COVID-19 cases by August, explaining the numbers are not meant to scare people but to inspire them to take action.