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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Sotto laments fresh surge of COVID-19 cases: 'We didn't improve at all'

Sotto laments fresh surge of COVID-19 cases: 'We didn't improve at all'

Published Aug 24, 2021 10:18 am

"It appears that we did not improve at all."

Senate President Vicente Sotto III could not help but make the statement as the Philippines recorded its highest daily coronavirus infection tally on Monday, August 23.

Senate President Vicente 'Tito' Sotto III

At the Senate's plenary session Monday, Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri raised the Department of Health (DOH) reporting 18,332 new confirmed cases of COVID-19, the highest single-day count since the pandemic hit the country in 2020.

"It's a sad day and a dark day for our anti-COVID efforts, I think we've logged the highest numbers of cases today at 18,332. 18,332 cases today. I'm in shock that it has gone up this high," Zubiri said.

"That's really a sad note because over a year ago, the cases were hovering only in the thousands," Sotto commented.

"It appears that we did not improve at all," he observed.

But Zubiri attributed the surge of COVID-19 cases to the emergence of the Delta coronavirus variant. He also stressed the importance of following health protocols.

"Sana wala nang masyadong matigas ulo (I hope people won't be hard-headed anymore)," he said.

Other senators also joined the discussion, with Senator Francis Pangilinan reiterating the need for an aggressive contact tracing effort by the government.

Agreeing with Zubiri, Sen. Risa Hontiveros also called for an equitable distribution of COVID-19 vaccines across the country.

"In order for all the regions to have a fighting chance to reach heard immunity," she said.

Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon and Senator Juan Edgardo "Sonny" Angara, meanwhile, proposed to their colleagues to provide the government with more funds for the procurement of COVID-19 vaccines.

Sotto disclosed that he and Zubiri, along with Senator Panfilo Lacson, were set to meet officials of the Interagency Task Force (IATF) on the Management of Emerging Infectious Disease about the country's COVID-19 response.

As of August 23, a total of 1,857,646 coronavirus cases have been recorded in the Philippines; 130,350 of which remain active, while 31,961 died. Over 1.6 million have recovered.

Related Tags

Tito Sotto delta variant Senate covid-19 vaccine rollout pandemic response IATF migz zubiri
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