The Covid-19 state of calamity imposed throughout the Philippines should be extended until 2023.
Private Hospitals Association of the Philippines Inc. (PHAPI) President Dr. Jose Rene de Grano backed the proposed extension of the nationwide state of calamity, stressing the need to strengthen the country’s guard against Covid-19, especially amid the nearing holiday season.
“Sa tingin natin ay dapat ituloy pa ‘yan kahit until the first quarter of . Kahit pa sabihing bumababa ang number of cases, still around 17,000 pa rin ang active cases right now at tuloy-tuloy niyan lalo na ngayong holiday season (We think that it should be continued at least until the first quarter of 2023. Despite the decreasing number of infections, our active cases are still around 17,000 right now and that will continue to increase especially this holiday season),” said de Grano in a Laging Handa public briefing on Thursday, Nov. 24.
President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., in September, extended the said nationwide state of calamity until Dec. 31, 2022 to “preserve” the benefits of this declaration including the emergency procurement and special risk allowance for healthcare workers.
De Grano, on the other hand, said the country should not be complacent despite the decreasing number of Covid-19 infections in the Philippines.
“Halos lahat ay di na nagma-mask. Ibig sabihin ay may posibilidad pa rin na tumaas ang number of cases natin (Almost everyone no longer wears a mask. This means that there is still a possibility that the number of our cases will increase),” he reiterated.