Philippines has 2nd most COVID-19 deaths in SEA, most cases in region

Last Wednesday, Health Secretary Francisco Duque touted the low coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19 ) infection rate in the Philippines compared to other countries, crediting President Rodrigo Duterte for the country's response to the crisis.

In a briefing, Duque said that the Philippines' current rate compared favorably to other countries.

“Isa po tayo sa may mababa na rate of infection kaya ito po ay nagsasalamin ng mga desisyon na ginawa po ng ating mahal na Pangulo,” he said at a press briefing in Malacañang.

But how do the numbers stack up?

According to April 13 data from the World Health Organization (WHO), the Philippines recorded the second-highest number COVID-19 deaths and the highest number of confirmed cases in Southeast Asia.

As of April 13, the country recorded 315 deaths out of 4,932 giving it a 6.38 percent case fatality rate. This was also equivalent to at least three deaths per million people out of its 110 million population.

The Philippines also had the first COVID-19 death outside China.

The Philippines was meanwhile second to Indonesia in the number of COVID-19 deaths, with the latter recording 399 deaths out of 4,557 confirmed cases.

Based on the number of deaths divided by the total confirmed cases, Indonesia’s case fatality rate was at 8.75 percent. Indonesia also had almost two deaths per million people out of its 273.5 million population.

The Southeast Asian country with the third most number of COVID-19 deaths was Malaysia with 77 out of 4,817 confirmed cases or 1.6 percent case fatality rate. It had more than two deaths per million out of its 32.6 million population

Malaysia was followed by Thailand with 40 deaths out of 2,579 confirmed cases.

Singapore, Myanmar, and Brunei had recorded nine, four, and one death; while Cambodia, Vietnam, Timor-Leste, and Laos had no COVID-19 fatalities.

As of April 13, the region recorded 845 deaths out of 20,411 confirmed cases, data from the World Health Organization showed. This was equivalent to a case fatality rate of 4.14 percent.

Number of cases

With 4,932 cases as of April 13, the Philippines had the most number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in the region.

The Philippines was followed by Malaysia with 4,817 cases; and Indonesia with 4,557 cases.

Singapore had 2,918 cases; followed by Thailand with 2,579; and Vietnam with 265.

Brunei, Cambodia, Myanmar, Laos, and Timor-Leste recorded the lowest number of confirmed cases with 136, 122, 62, 19, and four confirmed cases, respectively.

The Department of Health announced that as of April 14, the country had 5,223 cases with 335 deaths and 295 recoveries.

Secretary Carlito Galvez, chief implementer of the national action plan against the COVID-19 pandemic, earlier described the Philippine response to the virus threat as sterling compared to other countries.

“'Yung ating lockdown ay napakaganda po ng ating nagawa dahil nai-push po ang curve toward one month na delay. It gave us time to improve our medical services," Galvez said.

"Napakaganda ng ating preparasyon kumpara sa ibang bansa. Tayo ang  pinakauna na nagkaroon ng tinatawag nating travel ban sa mga bansa na nagkakaroon ng COVID cases at nakita natin na ang ating hard decision is paving the way for the good results that we are having now," he added. — DVM, GMA News