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Flattening of COVID-19 curve halted in Philippines as curbs eased –Roque


coronavirus disease 2019 Philippine COVID-19 response

The Philippines had started flattening the curve of COVID-19 cases during  the implementation of enhanced community quarantine (ECQ), but the trend halted when restrictions were ordered eased, presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said on Thursday.

According to Roque, the number of cases increased when restrictions were relaxed in government efforts to reopen the economy.

“I think we started flattening some time when we relaxed ECQ, immediately after ECQ because that shows that ECQ was very, very effective—ECQ and MECQ,” he said in an interview on CNN Philippines.

“I think we had more cases since then because we’ve opened the economy,” he added.

He also noted that the increases were recorded when the government had "tremendously" expanded its testing capacity.

Roque made the remark after Health Secretary Francisco Duque III’s statement that the Philippines already flattened the curve.

However, Duque backpedaled, clarifying that what he meant was "bent," not "flattened" the curve. “Paumanhin po sa confusion na resulta ng aking earlier statement, nalito lang po ako sa tanong,” he said. —LBG, GMA News

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