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Palace: Surge in COVID-19 cases due to increase in testing kits available


Malacañang on Sunday clarified that the jump in confirmed cases of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) was due to the additional supply of testing kits, as it belied claims that the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) is ineffective in flattening the curve.

"As the manufacture and supply of testing kits become available, plus the establishment of additional COVID-19 testing centers, there are more people being tested nor than before, necessarily the hitherto unknown cases of COVID-19 have surfaced hence the galloping increase in number," presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo said.

The statement was issued on the same day that the Department of Health reported that the number of COVID-19 cases has risen to 1,418, of which 71 people died.

This is a substantial jump from the 187 cases recorded on March 17, 2020, the start of the ECQ which will last until April 13, 2020, effectively restricting travel within the region.

"As we have previously stated, the reason for a few reported cases of confirmed cases two weeks ago was because there was a lack of testing kits to ascertain the number of those afflicted with the disease," said Panelo.

"Had the enhanced community quarantine or partial lockdown not been imposed, the number of the COVID-19 cases could have been staggering, for the simple reason that with unrestricted movement of the population, with each individual being a potential carrier, the coronavirus would have an untrammelled leap-frogging from one person to another," he elaborated.

Preliminary data available, however, indicates that the Philippines lags behind its Southeast Asian peers in terms of the number of COVID-19 tests conducted.

"The once inadequate supply of Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs) that cost the lives of nine of our doctors and placed others in critical condition have been addressed at, as donations of PPEs (i.e., surgical masks, head gears, face shields, goggles, gloves, protective gowns and foot covers) coming from many sources have poured in even as their local production is in full swing from our garments manufacturers and local fashion designers," said Panelo.

"Medical supplies, alcohol, soap and other health items are coming in too from various donors, individuals and privates entities. The Bayanihan spirit has caught fire and everyone is chipping in a united front against this unseen deadly enemy," he added. — RSJ, GMA News

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