The Philippines has the fastest rise of covid 19 cases in Western Pacific Region - said WHO

The Philippines has recorded a total of 35,445 confirmed cases of the corona virus disease as of Sunday, June 28, 2020. This includes 9,686 recoveries and 1,244 deaths.

Since June 16, Philippines recorded a daily increase of COVID-19 cases. World Health Organization (WHO) data shows Philippines has the fastest growing cases among over 20 countries and territories in Western Pacific Region. Basing from the confirmed cases by date of report within 30 days, Philippines stood out in the WHO's graph data.

The Department of Health (DOH) did not directly comment on the matter, but it pointed out that Philippines should not be compared with other countries.  It should take consideration of the population, living conditions, specially health system capacity.

Photo Credit: asia.nikkei.com

“Our socioeconomic context, particularly living conditions, as well as health system capacity, even prior to COVID, is different from Singapore,” Department of Health said in its Facebook post.

“Please take that into account when we do our analysis. Let us not cherry pick the countries we want to compare ourselves to,” the department added.

The lawmakers called on the administration to step up its game when the news were out.

"Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) must address the health protocols and programs being done by the DOH. Something is very wrong!" Senate President Vicente "Tito" Sotto III said.

"I really hope that during the past months we have upgraded our healthcare system to properly respond to this pandemic," added Villanueva.

Several cases of Balik Probinsya beneficiaries were reported to have spread the corona virus to areas in provinces such as in Baybay City in Leyte, which reported its first COVID-19 case from a member of the program. New cases also are from frontliners like the PNP and OWF's who where swabbed but didn't wait for the result to come out. This only means that we still lack in the guidance protocols being implemented.

In a separate statement, Senator Christopher Lawrence "Bong" Go said the public must follow safety protocols to curb the spread of the corona virus disease.

"Kung susunod po tayo sa mga patakaran at patuloy tayong magtutulungan para maiwasan ang pagkalat ng sakit, kung mas maisasaayos rin ang ating health facilities and capabilities -- ito po ang mga tanging makakapagsabi kung kailan natin malalampasan at tuluyang matapos ang krisis na dulot ng COVID-19," (We should follow guidelines or rules and continue to help stop the spread of the virus, and if our health facilities and capabilities will be reorganized and improved -- these are the only ways we could stop the crisis of COVID-19) he said in a separate statement.