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INFECTIOUS DISEASE SPECIALIST SAYS

Number of COVID-19 cases in Philippines stabilizes but no significant decrease yet


The number of COVID-19 cases recorded in the Philippines has stabilized but there has been no significant reduction just yet, an infectious disease specialist said Friday.

Dr. Rontgene Solante of San Lazaro Hospital made the observation with the country recording 205,581 COVID-19 cases, as of Thursday, since community transmission was recorded in March.

Of this number, 133,990 recovered, while 3,234 died. The number of active COVID-19 cases is at 68,357.

“Hindi na ganun kataas…nagstabilize lang ang number of cases, pero hindi pa significant ang pagbaba ng kaso,” Solante said in an interview over Dobol B sa News TV.

As for COVID-19 deaths recorded, he said there was a significant decrease.

“More or less, nag-improve na tayo  in the last two to three months kasi alam na natin kung paano i-manage ang mga kaso,” he added.

Going forward, Solante expressed hope that the country would have the antigen saliva test or kits using saliva as a specimen for testing an individual for COVID-19.

“Ginagamit ito roon sa NBA bubble, at iyong accuracy ay maihahambing roon sa nasal swab test,” he said.

“Sana magkaroon na tayo ng kakayahan para rito kasi puwede ito sa malawakang population, mga P500 lang ang magagastos, at 90 to 100 tests ang puwedeng gawin in three hours, at may resulta na agad. Malaki talaga ang advantage,” Solante added.

Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire earlier said that using saliva as a specimen for COVID-19 test is still under study.

The community quarantine protocols in place, which restricts movement of people and prohibits mass gathering and non-essential work as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, already left 27 million people unemployed, according to the latest Social Weather Stations survey.—AOL, GMA News

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