Galvez: Gov’t expects another COVID-19 case surge in June or July

National Task Force Against COVID-19 and vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr. on Tuesday warned of another surge in June or July.

“We have to expect this coming June or July baka magkaroon na naman tayo ng peaking o surge,” Galvez said in an interview with ANC.

(We have to expect this coming June or July that we might have another peak or surge.)

Galvez gave this warning as he said there are various COVID-19 variants in the country and the vaccine efficacy will be determined six to nine months after the start of the vaccination program rollout.

“Hindi pa po tapos ang COVID [crisis]. Nakita po natin, there is a wrong notion na COVID is already finished in some other countries. It can reappear anytime,” he said.

(The COVID-19 pandemic is far from over. There is a wrong notion that the COVID-19 crisis is already finished in some other countries. It can reappear anytime.)

“We have to expect for the worst when we are planning something and we are now preparing for it,” he added.

He also noted of the “cycle” of infections in Cebu, National Capital Region and Bacolod City during the first wave of COVID-19 in the country last year.

“Until such time that there is already a definite cure or definite elimination for COVID, that is the time that we will see what we call the economic recovery,” Galvez said.

Expand intensive care capacity

On the other hand, Galvez said the government was able to “expand” the intensive care capacity of the healthcare system during the two-week enhanced community quarantine (ECQ).

During the ECQ period, he said the government eyed additional 164 additional ICU beds, 2,227 moderate and severe beds, and 1,045 isolation beds.

“Kung titingnan natin ang current situation, since 1991 wala tayong naging modernization napakaliit ng ICU beds natin. Sa Metro Manila, the ICU beds we have right now is 1,395. Building an ICU, di puwedeng overnight,” Galvez said.

(If we will see our current situation, we have not seen modernization since 1991 and we have a very small number of ICU beds. In Metro Manila, the ICU beds we have right now is 1,395. Building an ICU cannot be done overnight.)

This, after the Healthcare Professionals Alliance against COVID-19 (HPAAC) said the ECQ in the NCR Plus “seemed to have been wasted again.”

It added that it has resorted to extending the strict lockdown without clear plans to decrease community transmission.

The Department of Health also explained that the ECQ was used to expand the health care system in the country.

Last Sunday, the Philippine government imposed modified ECQ over Metro Manila, Bulacan, Cavite, Rizal and Laguna until end of April. — RSJ, GMA News