Doctor warns against complacency as severe COVID-19 cases rise

The vice president of the Philippine College of Physicians (PCP) on Tuesday said Filipinos should not be complacent as doctors have observed an increase in severe cases of COVID-19.

At an online forum, PCP Vice President Ma. Encarnita Limpin said healthcare workers are not letting their guard down despite what she said was a decrease in the number of new COVID-19 cases.

She said the Philippines is still approaching the flattening of the curve of COVID-19 infections.

"Ibig sabihin ho nito, hindi ho tayo pwedeng mag-relax, at kung titingnan natin sa ngayon, pataas ho nang pataas ang dami ng mga kaso na severe o kaya critical," Limpin said.

She said healthcare workers have seen more COVID-19 patients needing to be confined in the intensive care unit of hospitals.

"Dahil sa sitwasyon na ito, hindi ho namin masabi, kaming mga nasa frontlines, kaming mga nag-aalaga sa inyo, sa kalusugan ng ating mamamayang Pilipino, hindi ho namin talaga masabi na nakapagpapahinga ho kami," she said.

The PCP is a member of the Healthcare Professionals Alliance Against COVID-19 (HPAAC), the coalition of medical workers that called on the government for a "timeout" as the nation grappled with COVID-19.

Heeding the HPAAC's concerns, the government placed Metro Manila and its nearby provinces back to the stricter modified enhanced community quarantine from the general community quarantine for two weeks in August.

Limpin reminded the public to observe safety protocols like frequent handwashing, mask and face shield-wearing, and physical distancing.

"Hindi ho tayo talagang pwedeng mag-relax dahil kapag mag-relax ho tayo ay babalik tayo doon sa pagtaas ulit," she said.

Because of this, Limpin said the government should be careful about further loosening quarantine restrictions.

Philippine health authorities have recorded 290,190 COVID-19 cases in the country as of Monday, more than 3,000 of which are newly reported.

According to the Department Health, almost 55,000 of the case total are active cases -- 86.6% are mild, 8.9% are asymptomatic, 1.4% are severe, and 3.1% are critical.

More than 230,000 have recovered and nearly 5,000 patients have died. — RSJ, GMA News