Gov’t targets less Covid-19 deaths, more recoveries: Nograles

In a virtual presser aired on state-run PTV-4, Nograles also said the government would do its best to ensure the recovery of all Covid-19 patients. (File Photo by 🇨🇭 Claudio Schwarz | @purzlbaum/Unsplash)

MANILA – The government is exhausting all efforts to reduce the number of deaths of people infected with the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19), Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles said on Wednesday.

In a virtual presser aired on state-run PTV-4, Nograles also said the government would do its best to ensure the recovery of all Covid-19 patients.

He issued the statement as he agreed with the World Health Organization (WHO) that the Covid-19 epidemic in the Asia-Pacific region is “far from over.”

“Totoo po yun (It’s true), it’s not over yet,” he said. “So we need to make sure na i-minimize natin up to zero ‘yung deaths at dadami and more recoveries po ang makikita natin (So we need to make sure that we’re able to minimize the deaths until there is zero death, and there should be more recoveries).”

WHO director for Western Pacific Takesi Kasai, in a virtual press conference on Tuesday, said countries from the Asia-Pacific region must brace for large-scale community transmission of Covid-19.

To contain Covid-19 in the Philippines, President Rodrigo Duterte has placed the island of Luzon under enhanced community quarantine until April 12.

Kasai said the Philippine government should ensure that “basic lifelines are maintained” to make the Luzon-wide enhanced community quarantine effective.

He also said the Duterte administration should make “careful” consideration of the epidemiological situation and impact of the lockdown when it decides to lift the enhanced community quarantine in Luzon.

The possible lifting or extension of the month-long enhanced community quarantine in Luzon depends on the recommendation of the technical working group formed by the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases.

Nograles said the government would continue to implement measures against Covid-19, until it succeeds in stopping the further transmission of the novel coronavirus in the country.

“We are trying to flatten the curve and manage lahat ng nangyayari sa ating bansa (everything that is happening in the country),” he said.

Nograles also renewed his appeal for public cooperation to avoid the possibility that the Covid-19 cases in the Philippines could reach 75,000 by June, as earlier warned by WHO.

“Kaya ginagawa natin ang lahat ng mga hakbang na maaari nating gawin para hindi po tayo umabot sa puntong iyan (We’re undertaking all the necessary measures to avoid the possibility that Covid-19 cases in the country may peak at 75,000),” he said.

The Department of Health (DOH) on Wednesday reported 227 new confirmed Covid-19 cases, raising the total to 2,311.

The DOH also said eight more patients died, bringing the death toll to 96 while recoveries increased to 50 after one more recovered from the disease.