Palace ready to beat UP’s Covid-19 cases projection in July

Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque was optimistic that the government would be successful anew in preventing the further rise in Covid-19 infections in the country. (File Photo: YANCY LIM/PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO)

MANILA – Malacañang on Tuesday urged the public to help the government prove that the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) cases in the country would not swell to 60,000 by July 31, as projected by a group of researchers from the University of the Philippines (UP).

Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque was optimistic that the government would be successful anew in preventing the further rise in Covid-19 infections in the country.

Roque made the call, as he claimed that the government is “winning” the battle against Covid-19 since it was able to foil UP’s recent projection that Covid-19 cases in the Philippines could go up by 40,000 by end of June.

“Panalo na tayo (We have already won). We beat the UP’s prediction. We beat it. So congratulations, Philippines. So, let’s do it again in July,” Roque said in a virtual presser aired on state-run PTV-4.

As of June 29, the Philippines has recorded 36,438 confirmed Covid-19 cases, with 1,255 deaths and 9,956 recoveries.

The Covid-19 cases in the country may reach 60,000 by the end of July, according to the study by the UP researchers.

The study also bared that cases in Metro Manila and Cebu province may rise to 27,000 and 15,000, respectively, by July 31.

The UP experts also noted that the Covid-19 death toll in the country may reach 1,300.

Roque said the government is focused on bringing down the curve of new deaths of infected individuals, as well as the doubling and positivity rates of Covid-19 cases.

“Ngayon po, bagama’t dumadami ang mga kaso, tayo po ay nagwawagi sa Covid-19. Bakit? Una, patuloy pong bumababa ang mga namamatay dahil po sa Covid. Patuloy pong tumataas ang mga nakaka-recover (We are now winning against Covid-19 despite the rising cases. Why? Only few are dying while many are recovering),” he said.

Prepared for the worst

Roque also ensured that the government is ready for the worst as its fight against Covid-19 continues.

He gave the guarantee following the renewed warning of World Health Organization director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus that the “worst is yet to come” as the latter noted that the Covid-19 pandemic is “speeding up.”

“Pinaghandaan po natin iyan at pinaghahandaan pa rin (We were ready and remain ready [for the worst],” Roque said.

As part of the government’s continuing efforts to contain Covid-19, the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) has approved the proposal to revisit strategies in combating the new coronavirus disease, Roque said.

Roque said revisiting the strategies would help ensure that there is balance between health and economy.

“Palalakasin po natin ang kumpiyansa ng mga mamamayan na mag-balik trabaho at palakasin ang consumer demand. Paano po ito? Sa pamamagitan po ng testing, malawakang targeted testing (We will boost people’s confidence to go back to work. We will also boost consumer demand. How? Through expanded targeted testing),” he said.

Roque said the government is also accelerating the country’s testing capacity by end of July to aid in achieving a positivity rate of “3 percent.”

He said there would also be consultations with local government units on the moving up of the economy of Metro Manila, Central Luzon, and Calabarzon to easing up of community quarantine status.

He added that the government would continue enforcing minimum public health standards; ensuring the protection of vulnerable populations; maximizing the “test, trace, and isolate and treat” infrastructure; and using the full support of strategic communications.

Roque said the IATF-EID has also approved the plan to continue the “localized” quarantine at municipalities or villages with high Covid-19 cases.

“Susunod na istratehiya ay ang pagkakaroon ng mas marami pang localized quarantine sa mga munisipyo o barangay level, kapag mayroon pong ebidensya ng pagtaas ng mga kaso ng Covid-19 sa mga lugar na ito (Our next strategy is to have more localized quarantine at the municipal or quarantine levels, if there is evidence of rising Covid-19 cases in these areas),” he said.

Violators to face ‘heavy punishment’

Roque also reiterated his appeal to the public to heed the government’s quarantine rules by following strict physical distancing, using face masks, and observing proper hygiene.

He warned that quarantine violators would face “heavy punishment.”

He said they may either die due to Covid-19 or contract the disease for defying the quarantine protocols.

“Napakabigat ng parusa sa mga pasaway at hindi nagso-social distancing. Ang tawag po sa parusang iyan, kamatayan. Kung hindi po kamatayan, matinding pagkakasakit (Violators who do not observe social distancing will face heavy punishment. They will be punished with death or illness),” Roque said.