'Surge' used only when health care system already overwhelmed, says expert

The term "surge" may only used if the health care system is already overwhelmed, a member of the Department of Health Technical Advisory group said on Wednesday.

Dr. Edsel Salvana made the clarification in a House committee hearing after a lawmaker said the word had been causing confusion among lay people.

Bayan Muna Representative Carlos Isagani Zarate asked the Department of Health to clarify if there was really a surge happening in the metropolis.

He said he was further confused after Health Secretary Francisco Duque III used the term "once or twice" during the congressional hearing.

To answer his question, Salvana said the term surge should only be used if the health care system is already at critical capacity but currently Metro Manila's health care occupancy rate is still at 52% to 54%, which is manageable.

"Surge is not a form of term in epidemiology... Ginagamit ang surge kapag na-o-overwhelm ang health care system (It is used if the healthcare system is overwhelmed)," Salvana told Zarate.

"Pero at this point po, I do not think we can describe what's going on in Manila as a surge. There is an increase in cases but the health care system can still cope," he added.

Salvana added that the term "surge" is an "oxymoron." He said people must refrain from using imprecise language and generalized terms which could cause panic from people.

"Nakakatakot sa tao e siyempre iniisip ang India (People are scared because we might be similar to the state in India). We are not in that level po," he said.

Agreeing with Salvana, Duque said it would be more proper to use "spike in coronavirus cases" not surge in cases.

"I've been trying to avoid that word. Mahirap ang surge. Puwede lang gamitin ang surge sa capacity, not surge in cases. We always say spike in the increase of cases," the health chief said in the same Congressional hearing.

(It is difficult to say surge, we can use it for capacity only.)

At least five lawmakers from the House of Representatives have sought an investigation into the credibility of independent group OCTA Research Team,  which has been airing projections and warnings of the COVID-19 pandemic. The group welcomed the Congressional probe, adding that it would give them a chance to discuss their methodology.

The OCTA Research earlier recommended to the government to impose a circuit breaker lockdown in Metro Manila due to the rapid increase of COVID-19 infections. —NB, GMA News