Palace denies using late COVID-19 data

The Palace on Thursday denied using late COVID-19 data amid the country’s fight against the coronavirus pandemic.

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque Jr. was responding to comments made by resigned National Task Force Against COVID-19 consultant Dr. Tony Leachon that there is still much to be desired with the government data on COVID-19.

This Leachon said was considering that the report of Department of Health Region 7 does not match the report of private hospitals in Cebu City which has slid back to enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) last June 15 from general community quarantine (GCQ) due to the increasing number of COVID-19 cases there.

Under ECQ, mass transport and mass gathering is prohibited. Likewise, only workers in essential workers such as food and pharmaceutical industries are allowed to physically go to work.

“Not at all [did we use late data]. Nakikita po natin ang figures, we [in Metro Manila] are in GCQ and the majority of the country is in modified GCQ (MGCQ). Kung mali ang assumptions natin, we would be as bad as other countries, but we are not,” Roque said during the Palace briefing.

Under a GCQ, 75% of the workforce of each company are allowed to physically report to work while 10 to 50% of mass transport are in operation.

On the other hand, 50% of tourist and leisure activities are allowed under a less stricter MGCQ.

The Philippines on Thursday logged 562 more cases, bringing the total to 27,799. The total recoveries rose to 7,090, while the death toll climbed to 1,116.

“Hindi po natin itinatago kapag late ang data, kaya nga po may fresh and late cases. Isinasapubliko po natin iyan,” Roque said.

He was referring to the Health department’s protocol of treating COVID-19 test results released within three days as fresh cases and those COVID-19 test results released beyond three days as late cases.

“Repository po ng information ang DOH, galing po sa ospital, LGUs, regional offices, laboratories. Kaya nga po pinapadali na ito gamit iyong COVID-KAYA application, para automated na po ang entry, pati po ang pag-verify,” Roque said. -MDM, GMA News