While the Department of Health (DOH) agrees with the World Health Organization (WHO) that the "end is in sight" for the Covid-19 pandemic, the health agency's top official said on Friday, Sept. 16 that the country should remain prepared since the virus is here to stay.
"We agree with Dr. Tedros. Globally, kapag tiningnan natin, base sa mga statistics ngayon, base sa coverage ng immunization all over the world mukhang (Globally when we look at it, based on the current statistics, based on the immunization coverage all over the world, it looks like) we are seeing the light at the end of this tunnel," DOH Officer-in-Charge Maria Rosario Vergeire stated during a press briefing.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus recently told reporters at a press conference that while the world is not there yet, the "end is in sight" for the Covid-19 pandemic.
"Dito sa Pilipinas, pag tiningnan natin, ako personally, and even the Department feels na we are seeing na mukhang matatapos na nga, pero kailangan handa tayo kasi alam natin kahit matapos itong pandemyang ito, the virus is here to stay (Here in the country, me personally, and even the Department feels na we are seeing that it looks like it's almost over, but we need to be ready because even if this pandemic ends, the virus is here to stay)," she added.
Vergeire explained that this is the reason why the WHO recommended measures to be followed in case it comes to a point where the pandemic will end, the country is prepared because the virus will stay, and expectedly it will cause outbreaks every now and then.
She added that expectedly it will still cause one to two deaths or some deaths every now and then because the virus will stay. According to Vergeire, what should be done is to strengthen the system, strengthen the immunity of the population, and make our facilities ready.
"So pag dumating yung punto na yan lahat po tayo prepared, wala po tayong pangangamba, lahat tayo protektado (So that when that point comes we'll be prepared, we'll have no worries, all of ous will be protected)," she said.