Duterte optimistic vaccine vs COVID-19 will be developed soon

A vaccine to fight the spread of the deadly coronavirus disease (COVID-19) could be developed by foreign scientists soon, President Rodrigo Duterte said Tuesday.

Duterte gave the assurance in a speech before local government executives in Pasay City.

[W]ith the great strides now of science, in a matter of days, I’m sure that Russia, well the brightest of the brightest, and America, Japan, they are working overtime to come up with the vaccine,” he said.

“It takes time pero kaya na ng mundo. Kaya na ng mga gobyerno especially those who are rich in technology.”

Since the virus was first detected in the Chinese city of Wuhan last December, the number of confirmed infections globally surpassed 100,000 and has killed around 4,000 people.

The Philippines has so far 33 confirmed cases, including one fatality, as of Tuesday, according to the Department of Health.

Duterte said the coronavirus might stay for “a little while.”

“Pero kung hindi ka na umabot, that is really your destiny. Hindi mo na madala ‘yan sa handshake-handshake,” he said.

“Maski magpunta ka ng limang milyon na handshake diyan, ‘pag hindi mo pa panahon, hindi mo talaga panahon.”

The President has defied the advice of the Presidential Security Group to avoid close contact with other people.

“It’s a natural gravitation na talagang lapitan mo,” he said.

“And it’s always nice to talk to a beautiful lady, corona or no corona, especially if she looks life a mutya with a corona on her head.” — BAP, GMA News