President Rodrigo Duterte has praised frontliners and the public for the apparent slowdown of coronavirus cases in the country, noting that the lockdowns have contributed greatly to flattening the curve.
In a televised meeting with his Cabinet on Monday night, the President said he truly appreciated those following the minimum health protocols set by the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emergent and Infectious Diseases (IATF).
"That meant a lot and contributed to what is happening now, the flattening of cases," Duterte said. "Remember that the lessening of contamination is not because COVID-19, the germ is gone. It is there floating around us. Kaya lang ang mga tao sumunod na… The mask was one important factor."
He also noted that several vaccines against the coronavirus, mentioning Moderna in particular, would be ready by the end of the month, and that the government would "go for less expensive ones."
The President again vouched for Health Secretary Francisco Duque III, saying he should not resign from his post despite calls from lawmakers and the private sector to do so.
"This is not the time for you to resign. Hindi pa panahon mag resign. I have full trust in you. Ang akin lang naman dyan corruption, wala ka doon sa… Tiningnan namin yung papel. Unless there is a specific finding," he told Duque.
New COVID-19 cases down to 1,383
The Department of Health (DOH) reported 1,383 news cases of COVID-19 on Monday, bringing the total number of infections to 238,727.
The DOH also announced 230 recoveries which brought total number of recoveries to 184,906. There were 15 deaths.
The confirmed cases are reported based on the total tests done by 88 out of 115 current operational labs. Twenty-seven labs failed to submit their data to the COVID-19 Data Repository System.
Athletes allowed to resume training
The government’s COVID-19 task force has allowed student-athletes to resume training in areas under general community quarantine (GCQ) and modified general community quarantine (MGCQ), Malacañang said Monday. (See related story on C1 — Editors).
Palace spokesman Harry Roque said people are also now required to wear face shields in all public places as a precaution against COVID-19.
Previously, the government approved the mandatory wearing of face shields in areas such as supermarkets, shopping malls and government offices as well as in public transportation, indoor workplaces, and commercial establishments.
UP group warns about Bacolod cases
DUE to an increasing number of COVID-19 cases, Negros Occidental’s Bacolod City must be placed under stricter modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ), according to a University of the Philippines researcher who has tracked the pandemic.
In an interview over Dobol B sa News TV, Ranjit Rye from the UP-OCTA Research Team UP-Department of Political Science urged the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases(IATF-EID) and National Task Force Against COVID-19 to revert Bacolod City’s general community quarantine (GCQ) to MECQ.
COVID-19 cases in Bacolod City has continued to rise at over 100 every day, and hospitals and other health care facilities are getting overwhelmed, he said.
Palace mouthpiece under self-isolation
Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque is now under self-isolation at home after his security detail tested positive for COVID-19.
Roque made the statement in his regular press briefing but said he does not show any symptoms.
“One of my security detail tested positive. I don’t have the any symptoms, but we’re following protocol,” Roque said.
Isolation and quarantine are public health practices used to protect the public by preventing exposure to people who have or may have a contagious disease.
DOH, vaccine makers in talks
The Department of Health (DOH) is holding continuous talks with US pharmaceutical firms Pfizer, Moderna, and other coronavirus disease vaccine developers.
In a virtual media forum, DOH Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said the department has not made any commitments yet with Pfizer, which is now on Phase 3 clinical trials.
During the meeting, she said the department explained the regulatory processes on vaccines and discussed confidentiality disclosure agreements (CDA).
During their discussions, Vergeire said Pfizer asked if the DOH could give estimates on the pre-order of the vaccines.