'NEXT HOTSPOT IN SOUTHEAST ASIA?'

Upward trend of COVID-19 cases in Philippines due to aggressive testing efforts —Dizon

The rising number of COVID-19 cases in the Philippines can be attributed to the aggressive testing and tracing efforts of the government, testing czar Vince Dizon said Thursday after the country recorded the second highest number of infections in Southeast Asia.

Recognizing that the relaxed restrictions under the general community quarantine allowed more interactions among the public since June, Dizon said the government continued with its effort of testing more individuals to detect the virus.

"Malalaman lang natin ang extent o ang dami ng na-infect ng COVID-19 kung tayo may magte-test at magte-trace at 'yun ang ginawa natin," Dizon said during the launch of the COVID-19 Command Center.

"Habang tayo nagte-test, talagang mas marami tayong makikitang positibo pero mas importante 'yun kasi kung hindi natin sila mahahanap at hindi natin sila mai-isolate eh lalong kakalat at dadami ang magkakasakit," he added.

Dizon refused to comment on what he called a "speculative" report of a news outlet in Singapore which stated that the Philippines is likely to become the next COVID-19 hotspot in Southeast Asia.

He instead emphasized the beefed up testing capacity of the Philippines.

"Tayo na yata ang pinakamataas sa Southeast Asia in terms of tests per day. Umaabot na tayo ngayon ng mahigit 30,000 per day. Ang Indonesia halos kalahati lang noon, ang Singapore wala pa sa kalahati. Halos doble na rin tayo ng testing ng South Korea," Dizon said.

With a current average of 30,000 daily testing capacity, the testing czar said almost 1.7 million individuals have undergone COVID-19 tests across the country.

A document obtained by GMA News Online showed that the government aims to test up to 3.3 million people by the end of September.

Dizon, nonetheless, pointed out that the battle does not end in detection of the infected.

"Kailangan mas mabilis tayo mag-isolate. Hindi humihinto sa testing ang ating laban sa COVID-19. Kung ikaw ay magpopositibo, kailangan immediately mag-isolate ka so 'yun ang ginagawa natin sa tulong ng One Hospital Command," he said.

The One Hospital Command system aims to provide health care facilities' seamless referral system for COVID-19 patients so that they can be accommodated easily and that their medical needs would be provided promptly. The mechanism has the end goal of further lowering the case fatality rate in the country.

As of August 5, the total number of COVID-19 cases in the Philippines jumped to 115,980, the second highest in Southeast Asia next to Indonesia which has 116,865.

The number of active cases in the country is at 47,587. On the other hand, 66,270 have recovered while 2,123 died.—AOL, GMA News