Philippines COVID-19 cases rose after shift from ECQ to GCQ -UP experts

The number of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases in the Philippines increased slightly after the government relaxed community quarantines in parts of the country, experts from the University of the Philippines said on Monday.

Epidemiologist Dr. Emmanuel Baja said the new cases included those from the Department of Health's backlogs of results. 

"Noong tayo po ay naglipat ng strategy po mula sa ECQ patungo sa GCQ… nagkaroon po ng kaunting pagtaas ng mga kaso," Baja said in a news briefing.

"Kasama na rin po sa pagtaas ng mga kaso ang pagdami po ng backlogs na ngayon po naman ay ina-aaddress na po ng DOH," he added.

Baja said the country's health care  system could handle the still growing number of infections.

“Ayon po sa pagtaya ng UP COVID-19 Pandemic Response Team, pataas pa ang bilang ng mga taong may kumpirmadong COVID-19,” Baja said.

The Philippines’ COVID-19 tally topped 26,000 on Monday

The experts earlier predicted that COVID-19 cases nationwide could spike to 40,000 by June 30 based on the current trend of transmission.

The UP team on Monday said the country’s health care system had not been overwhelmed. 

There are still vacant beds in intensive care units and other equipment like ventilators and personal protective equipment are still available, the experts said.

“Samakatuwid, kinakaya ng ating healthcare system ang bilang mga pasyenteng may sakit sa COVID-19. Hindi po lubusang na-o-overwhelm ang ating mga ospital sa ngayon at ito po ay isang patunay na nagfa-flatten na po ang curve,” Baja said.

The UP experts also backed the DOH’s report on Sunday that the Philippines’ COVID-19 case fatality rate was on a downtrend.

To combat COVID-19, the UP team urged the public and government to strengthen the implementation of the trace-test-isolate-treat strategy, encouraged work from home arrangements, physical school closures, acceptance of social distancing measures and proper hygiene, and advocated for open data for better science and policy making.

“Kung hindi tayo mag-iingat ngayong nasa general community quarantine na po tayo, kung saan pinapayagan na po ang mga bagay na dating hindi pinapayagan ng ating gobyerno, maaari pong dumami ulit ang magkakasakit sa COVID-19,” Baja said.

“Pero kung hindi po tayo masyadong dadami ang may sakit ng COVID-19, kakayanin ng healthcare system natin alagaan ang mga taong may sakit ng COVID-19, gayundin po ang ibang pasyente sa ospital,” he added. -NB, GMA News