Duterte should wield popularity to allay fears over nCoV – Robredo

President Rodrigo Duterte should wield his popularity to allay the public’s fears over the 2019 novel coronavirus acute respiratory disease (2019-nCoV ARD) outbreak, Vice President Leni Robredo said on Sunday.

In her weekly radio show, the Vice President noted that the hysteria over the 2019-nCoV ARD was partly caused by the lack of a unified stream of information from top officials regarding the outbreak.

“Mayroon sanang opisyal na, parang, arm na kinukuhaan natin ng datos. Kasi kapag tiningnan mo ngayon iyong social media, kung ano-ano iyong nandoon, hindi mo alam kung alin iyong tama, alin iyong mali,” she said.

Robredo underscored that the government must assure the public that steps were being taken to protect them from the virus.

“Pinakamabuti sana kung si pangulo iyong lumabas in public para mag-make ng statements. Kasi alam natin na very popular si pangulo, na kapag siya iyong mag-assure sa mga kababayan natin na lahat ginagawa ng pamahalaan, tingin ko hindi ganoon kagrabe iyong takot, e,” she explained.

“Talagang ngayon kasi medyo may distrust dahil iba-iba, e, iba-iba iyong sinasabi… Hindi siya nakakatulong at a time like this. Dapat sana mas decisive, mas swift,” Robredo added.

Earlier on Sunday, the Palace released its directives to various government agencies regarding the containment of the outbreak. 

According to the Department of Health, the Philippines now had two confirmed cases of 2019-nCoV ARD, with one of the patients being the first fatality due to the virus outside China. — Julia Mari Ornedo/DVM, GMA News