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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Roque vows to keep congratulating PH for gains vs COVID-19

Roque vows to keep congratulating PH for gains vs COVID-19

Published Jul 1, 2020 11:12 am

“I am going to keep on doing it and I really don’t care of the critics.”

This is what Presidential spokesman Harry Roque stressed amid criticisms for declaring “congratulations Philippines” after the number of COVID-19 cases in the country reached around 37,000 at the end of June despite University of the Philippines (UP) predictions that it could reach 40,000.

Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque Jr.
(YANCY LIM / PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO / FILE PHOTO / MANILA BULLETIN)

“i will keep on doing it because it is the only way we can encourage people. I will keep on exhorting people to social distancing,” Roque said during an interview over CNN Philippines.

“We can do it even if we open the economy,” the spokesman added.

With this, Roque encouraged the public to aim to tear down the UP 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 ng 60,000 (Let’s not reach 60,000). If at all we should aim that the number should not reach even 50,000,” the spokesman declared.

Roque assured that he is not criticizing UP which he described as “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 July the final figure reported by the Department of Health was 37,000,” Roque explained.

“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 UP “have perfectly been accurate in their 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 noted.

On the other hand, Roque reminded the public that the number of COVID-19 cases will continue to go up “because we are having more tests now.”

“We are now hitting 16,000 to 17,000 tests a day and we are aiming to hit 32,000. And when we do hit 32,000 there will be more cases,” he explained.

With this, Roque stressed the importance of having low positivity rate among those who are being tested for COVID-19.

“Positivity is how many of those tested actually test positive and the lower the number the better. The WHO (World Health Organization) still feels that that it is acceptable for 12 out of 100 to test positive,” he explained.

“We are scoring six to seven per 100,” said Roque as he cited weekly figures.

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