Expert raises alarm over increasing PH Covid-19 positivity rate


Health reform advocate Dr. Anthony “Tony” Leachon noted an uptick in the country’s Covid-19 positivity rate, attributing this rise to the increased mobility of people during Holy Week.

Leachon on Thursday, April 13, said the current nationwide positivity rate has climbed to seven percent, breaching the World Health Organization’s (WHO) five percent benchmark.

“Seven percent ang positivity rate at [dulot] yan ng paggalaw natin lalo na noong Holy Week (Our positivity rate has reached seven percent and this was caused by the increased mobility during Holy Week),” said Leachon in an interview over CNN Philippines on Thursday.

Positivity rate pertains to the number of individuals who test positive for Covid-19 out of all those who have been examined for the disease.

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Photo courtesy of Unsplash

Apart from the increasing nationwide positivity rate, the health expert noted that severe and critical Covid-19 cases are also on the rise. He also disclosed that the tally of deaths among the unvaccinated population is 13 percent higher than those who have been inoculated against the virus.

“It means that Covid-19 has not left yet. It is just there, lurking around as we move on to open our economy,” Leachon stressed in a mix of English and Filipino.

2nd booster jab for general population

Vaccination remains to be the gold standard to protect oneself from Covid-19. While the national government’s move to administer a second booster job for the general population is appreciated, Leachon said that it is “a little late.”

“Ipagpaumanhin ng [Department of Health] at ng [Health Technology Assessment Council], medyo huli na po ito nang kaunti kasi napanis na yung 50 million doses at sayang ‘yun. Marami na po akong nakitang ebidensya abroad na ginagamit na ang second booster sa healthy adults (Apologies to DOH and HTAC, but this is a little late because 50 million doses have already expired and that’s a waste. I have seen a lot of evidence abroad that the second booster is already being used in healthy adults),” said Leachon.

To provide context, the national government, through DOH, has approved the administration of a second Covid-19 booster jab for healthy adults aged 18 and above.

According to Leachon, it could have been offered earlier, knowing that the public’s immunity will wane immediately. Another factor, said Leachon, is that the government is aggressive in opening up the country’s tourism, hence it is better that all Filipinos are protected.

“If we want the economy to be stable and afloat, we should protect not only the sick ones but also the well ones,” he furthered.

Although “a little late,” Leachon still encouraged the eligible population to get vaccinated and boosted against Covid-19.