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Hontiveros calls for mass testing, says it's too early to declare victory over COVID
Hontiveros calls for mass testing, says it's too early to declare victory over COVID
Since no mass testing has been conducted yet to determine the extent of the country's coronavirus disease (COVID-19) infections, Senator Risa Hontiveros on Friday said the government should not be giving itself a pat on the back for breaking predictions on the number of cases.
(Senate of the Philippines / FILE PHOTO / MANILA BULLETIN)
“That is not something to cheer about,” said the senator during an interview over CNN Philippines.
“We still have to complete step one which is mass testing,” she added.
The lawmaker reacted to the “congratulations, Philippines!” declaration made by presidential spokesman Harry Roque for breaking the University of the Philippines' (UP) prediction that the country will reach 40,000 COVID-19 cases by the end of June. The Department of Health (DOH) reported around 37,000 cases.
“Hindi pa nga tayo nagma-mass testing (We are not yet conducting mass testing). It’s really possible even probable that under-diagnosed pa yung 38,000,” Hontiveros pointed out.
“Kasi sa mass testing lang natin malalaman how bad the numbers are (With mass testing we can find out how bad the numbers are). We have to find out that number so that we can move forward,” she said.
Roque said he will keep on congratulating the Philippines for gains against COVID-19.
“I am going to keep on doing it and I really don’t care about the critics,” he said.
“I will keep on doing it because it is the only way we can encourage our people. I will keep on exhorting people to (observe) social distancing,” he added.
Roque encouraged the public to aim to tear down UP's prediction that the COVID-19 cases could reach 60,000 by the end of July.
“As early as now, I think we should do it together. Wag na tayo umabot ng 60,000 (Let’s not reach 60,000). If at all, we should aim that the number should not reach even 50,000,” he said.
Roque said he was not criticizing UP which he described as a “ringside commentator” who predicted that the opponent will score 40,000 cases.
“The context is, UP forecasted that we would have 40,000 cases and as of yesterday, the last day of June, the final figure reported by the Department of Health was 37,000,” he said.
“It’s a small victory but I think it’s the first time that it did not realize the forecast of UP,” added Roque who noted that UP “has perfectly been accurate in its forecasting of how many cases we would have at the end of the month.”
“As far as I know, this is the first time that we missed it. Not by much, but we still missed it,” he said.