DOH: COVID-19 cases in Philippines could reach 75k in June sans proper intervention

The number of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases in the Philippines may balloon to 75,000 in three months if there would be no proper response and cooperation from stakeholders, the Department of Health (DOH) said Wednesday.

"Ito po ay isang modelling estimate na ginawa po ng ating mga eksperto kasama ang WHO (World Health Organization), ang ating mga epidemiologist din po dito sa ating bansa at sinasabi po na ang 75,000 ay aabutin natin kung hindi tayo maglalagay ng interventions na appropriate," Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said in a press briefing.

"Pero ang sinasabi natin we can flatten this curve. Puwede ho nating i-prevent na mangyari na mag-peak ang ganitong numero, so ibig sabihin po puwede nating i-spread across many months 'yan if only we can implement stringent measures po katulad nitong social distancing," she added.

Vegeire warned that one infected person can pass the virus on to two people in just one interaction.

"Puwedeng magkaroon ng reproductive rate ang ating virus ng one person can transmit it to two persons in just one sitting," she said.

With over 100 million population, the Philippines has so far recorded 193 confirmed cases of COVID-19. Of this number, seven have recovered while 14 died.

Vergeire said that only supportive treatment are being administered to infected patients since there is still no known cure for the novel disease.

The whole Luzon has been placed under enhanced community quarantine to prevent the transmission of the virus. — RSJ, GMA News