The Department of Health (DOH) asserted that the projection of a possible surge in Covid-19 cases next month, if public compliance to health protocols decreases, is based on science.
DOH Secretary Francisco Duque III said that the possible 500,000 active Covid-19 cases in May is based on the studies being conducted by the country’s health experts. As of April 23, there were 14,696 active cases nationwide.
“Hindi po ito gawa-gawa ng DOH, hindi po ito iniimbento ng IATF (Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases). Ito po ay mula sa ating mga experts, iyong mga data analytics, iyong atin pong FASSSTER group of experts na talagang nag-specialize, mga nagpaka-dalubhasa (It is not an invented story of the DOH or IATF. This is from our data analytics experts called FASSSTER group),” said Duque during a recent public briefing.
The FASSSTER or Feasibility Analysis of Syndromic Surveillance Using Spatio-Temporal Epidemiological Modeler is a team "composed of experts with long experience in the field of disease modeling, health informatics, social computing, and health systems development," according to the DOH.
The Philippines may once again experience a high number of coronavirus cases, just like what happened in other countries, if the public will be complacent in following the health and safety protocols, said Duque.
“Talagang magkakaroon ng muling pagsipa ang mga kaso gaya ng nakikita natin sa ibang mga bansa sa Europe, sa America, sa Asya. Nakita natin na nagtaasan, sumipa ang mga kaso (There will be an increase in cases just like what we have seen in some countries in Europe, America, and Asia. We have seen that their cases have increased),” he said.
“So, ayaw nating mangyari iyan. Simple lang ang solusyon. Sumunod tayo, tumalima tayo sa (we don't want that to happen. The solution is simple. Let’s comply with the) minimum public health standards. Mask, vaccination plus booster. Iyan ang tugon sa pandemya (That is the response to the pandemic),” he added.
Vaccination
The Health chief also urged eligible Filipinos to complete their Covid-19 vaccination while the number of cases remains low.
“Huwag na po tayong maghintay ng surge bago tayo magpabakuna at magpa-booster. Bakit ‘ka ninyo? Kung may surge, siksikan na naman ang mga vaccination centers, mahihirapan na naman po kayo, mahaba ang pila, mainit at siyempre magrireklamo na naman ang taumbayan at sasabihin na ganito, ganoon. Samantalang ngayon na maluwag ang mga bakunahan ay pumunta na po kayo (Let's not wait for a surge to happen before we get vaccinated. Why? If there is a surge, the vaccination centers will be crowded again, you will have a hard time: long queues, hot weather—people will complain about these again. Go to the vaccination centers now),” he said.
“Kapag nagkaroon ng surge, pati iyong mga magbabakuna, mga doktor, mga nurse ay baka hindi makarating sa mga vaccination centers. Kasi pupunta sa hospital (When there is a surge, the vaccinators such as doctors and nurses may not be able to go to the vaccination centers because they will be deployed in the hospitals),” he added.
Duque said that the vaccines will help protect people against the severe or critical form of Covid-19.
“Kung saka-sakaling magkaroon ng tinatawag nating another surge, protektado na tayo, malayo na tayo doon sa severe to critical COVID infection (If another surge will occur, then we are already protected from severe to critical Covid infection),” he furthered.