DOH: Over 37,000 COVID-19 recoveries in a single day is based on scientific evidence

The re-tagging of over 37,000 asymptomatic and mild COVID-19 cases is based on scientific evidence, Health Undersecretary Rosario Vergeire said Friday.

Vergeire made the response in the aftermath of the over 37,000 COVID-19 recoveries recorded in a single day on July 30 largely due to the re-tagging of asymptomatic and mild COVID-19 cases as recovered due to improved data harmonization among government agencies.

Vergeire said that asymptomatic patients can already be tagged as recovered if the patient did not show symptoms for 14 days since day of RT-PCR test. Those with mild symptoms, on the other hand, will be deemed recovered once they are deemed clinically recovered by their doctor and finished the required 14 -day isolation period.

“Iyong clinically recovered, meaning wala ka ng sintomas tulad ng lagnat. Kung sa ika-10th day iyong clinical recovery, you have to be in isolation for another four days to be tagged as recovered,” Vergeire said in a press conference.

“This is not an assumption. This is based on scientific evidence. Experts across the globe are backing this up, and this is being implemented in other countries also,” Vergeire added.

She then cited that the 14 days from onset of illness (additional 14 days from discharge) recovery policy of the Philippines is even more conservative compared with that of the US Center for Disease Control (10 days), Europe Center for Disease Control (additional eight days from date of discharge and India (additional seven days from discharge).

“We have to believe the experts kasi kung ‘di tayo maniniwala, saan pa tayo maniniwala? Ano na ang pagbabasehan natin ng siyensiya?” Vergeire pointed out.

Vergeire said that such a huge number of recoveries is expected to happen, considering that over 90% of COVID-19 cases in the country are mild and asymptomatic cases.

The 37,000 recoveries, Vergeire said, accumulated from June 1 to July 30 since not all Local Government Units were able to update the condition of the asymptomatic and mild COVID-19 cases after the 14-day incubation period.

“Marami pa rin sa reporting units natin, especially iyong sa local governments, hindi na nila inuupdate 'yung kanilang [case investigation] form for the outcomes of the patient. Halimbawa, the patient was identified positive na July 1. Pagdating ng July 14, aantayin namin dapat na nakatag na siya as recovered because that is the outcome of the case. But most often than not, hindi nila nagagawa,” Vergeire said.

“Ito talaga ang nakapag-lead sa pagkaipon ng mild and asymptomatic na wala silang outcomes at all. Lahat na nakikita natin [na recovery ngayon] ay from June 1,” she added.

Vergeire said conducting RT-PCR test is not an effective way to determine if the patient has recovered from COVID-19, considering that a patient can repeatedly test positive for COVID-19 even if the patient is already not infectious.

“Ang RT-PCR test basis for infection. Para po malaman kung may virus ang tao. Pero para po malaman kung recovered na, hindi natin yan gagamitin kasi napaka-sensitive po ng RT-PCR test. Mayroon nga po 55 days na, nagpapapositive pa rin, pero hindi na siya infectious,” Vergeire said.

“That is why we have this protocol [na hindi na gagamit ng RT-PCR test for recovery,” Vergeire added. 

Vergeire also argued that given that recovered COVID-19 patients can be infected again, the safeguard is simply the strict observance of minimum health standards which is observing physical distancing, washing of hands frequently and wearing of masks.

“Ito po ay binabase po natin sa scientific evidence around the globe. Wala pa naman po tayo naririnig na pumuputok na ang isang recovered na mild o asymptomatic ay nagkalat ng impeksyon sa isang community. Surveillance lang po talaga at observance ng minimum health standards,” Vergeire said. — RSJ, GMA New