DOH expects more reflective figures of COVID-19 cases in coming days as backlogs decrease

The Department of Health (DOH) on Wednesday said the data on coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases in the country could be more reflective of the actual situation in the coming days as testing capacities is improving.

"'Yung mga pumapasok na resulta na nailalabas natin sa publiko, maaari ay hindi timely, kumbaga baka dati pa ho sila, hinahabol lang sa ngayon. It might be an artificial rise kaya ang ibinibilin natin sa ating mga kababayan huwag ho kayong magugulat," Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said at a press conference.

"In these coming days, kapag natanggal na po natin lahat ng backlogs makikita na po natin ang totoong mga numero sa pagtaas o di kaya pagbaba dito sa ating bansa," she added.

Ninety new cases of COVID-19 were recorded in the Philippines on Tuesday, bringing the total to 552. So far, 35 have died and 20 have recovered.

Vergeire has repeatedly said the trend could be an artificial rise since the testing capacities of the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine have been extended to other laboratories in the country.

"Ang atin pong laboratoryo ay nag-i-stabilize na ng capacity. Nakakahabol na po tayo sa ating mga backlogs before kaya pumapasok na ngayon ang maraming test result," she said. — RSJ, GMA News