Filtered By: Topstories
News

Duque defends deputies over DOH error on COVID-19 tally


Health Secretary Francisco Duque III on Tuesday defended subordinates at the Department of Health (DOH) over an erroneous initial report on the number of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases in the country.

In a now-deleted Facebook post, the DOH announced that they recorded 11 new cases, bringing the total number of COVID-19 patients in the country to 35.

At a press briefing hours later, however, Health Assistant Secretary Maria Rosario Vergeire backtracked and said they only recorded nine new cases for a total of 33

"I take the cudgels for my people who have been severely overstretched in the last several days with no weekend breaks," Duque told reporters.

"Nagkakamali din lalo na kung walang pahinga!"

Vergeire explained that they rushed to announce the 11 new cases because a private organization released the updated figures ahead of the DOH media conference.

“Upon verification, DOH reported that two of the new positive samples received by the Epidemiology Bureau are repeat tests on samples taken from patients 7 and 8,” she explained. — Julia Mari Ornedo/DVM, GMA News

LOADING CONTENT