IATF on Philippines having most number of COVID-19 cases in ASEAN: This is not a contest

The Philippines having the highest number of COVID-19 cases in Southeast Asia is not a cause for alarm, Inter-Agency Task Force spokesperson Karlo Nograles said Thursday.

“Hindi naman ito contest among ASEAN na pababaan. In fact, this was not even discussed during the recent ASEAN and ASEAN plus 3 meetings,” Nograles said at a virtual press briefing.

According to Department of Health data, the country has 5,453 COVID-19 cases as of Wednesday afternoon. Of this number, 349 have died while 353 others recovered.

“Let us not be disheartened. Kaya nga ang sinasabi natin, we will expand our testing, at we expect na tataas ng number ang positive cases kapag marami ng na-test. Ang kapalit naman nito ay malalaman natin agad ang infected, mati-treat agad at mapapa-recover natin agad,” Nograles said.

Nograles added the Philippines is implementing the same measures being implemented in other countries which seek to contain the COVID-19.

“We are sharing best practices. What we have learned is that what we are doing in the Philippines is something that they they are also doing: quarantine, lockdown, travel restrictions, testing, treatment, and also, we are all waiting for a vaccine, which experts said could take a year to develop,” he said.

“Iyong ginagawa ng Pilipinas, ginagawa rin ng ibang ASEAN countries, and this reinforces our belief that we are doing exactly what we should be doing.”

Luzon has been under enhanced community quarantine since March 16, a measure which banned mass transport, closed non-essential businesses, and prohibited mass gathering.

The quarantine period, which is expected to be lifted on April 30, has affected at least three million workers so far. --KBK, GMA News