Covid-19 cases breaching 61K-mark saddens Palace

FILE: A medical team of the Manila Health Department gets blood samples from motorists who avail of the “Drive-Thru Testing Center” in front of the Andres Bonifacio Monument, Manila on Wednesday (July 15, 2020). (PNA photo by Avito C. Dalan)

MANILA – Malacañang on Friday said it was saddened that the total confirmed cases of the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) in the Philippines has jumped to over 61,000.

In an interview with state-run PTV-4, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said it was disheartening that the University of the Philippines (UP) researchers’ initial prediction of 60,000 Covid-19 cases in the country by July 31 happened before the month ends.

“Ngayon, nagkatotoo na nga. Hindi pa tapos ang buwan. Nakakalungkot po iyan. Nag-bago pa sila (UP researchers) ng forecast na mas maraming magkakasakit ng Covid (Now, the prediction becomes true. It’s just less than a month. It’s saddening. They even changed their forecast, saying that many more will get infected with Covid),” Roque said.

Roque issued the statement a day after Covid-19 infections in the Philippines rose to 61,266.

As of Thursday, the Philippines has reported that around 21,440 Covid-19 patients have recovered while 1,643 others have died of coronavirus.

In June, a group of researchers from UP projected that the country is likely to hit 60,000 Covid-19 cases by end of July.

The group revised its projection, saying the Covid-19 infections could top 85,000 by the end of July, considering the disease’s transmission rate and doubling time.

Strategies still working

Despite the latest development, Roque remained confident that the quarantine measures imposed by the government are still “working” to combat Covid-19.

“Gumagana naman po dahil kung hindi po tayo gumalaw, eh di milyun-milyon na po ang may Covid (They are still working because millions of people would have acquired Covid-19, had we failed to take appropriate actions),” Roque said.

Roque was referring to experts’ previous warning that the number of Filipinos who might get infected with Covid-19 could be up to 8.

3 million, in case the government fails to address the Covid-19 pandemic.

Roque said the government’s strategies to contain Covid-19 are effective since only a few people are dying of Covid-19.

“So gumagana naman po dahil maliit pa rin ang bilang ng mga namamatay sa sakit na ito (So our strategies are still working because the number of people dying due to this disease is just low),” he said.

Roque also maintained that with the cooperation of the public, the country would be successful in its fight against Covid-19.

He reminded everyone anew to continue wearing face masks, washing hands, and observing social distancing to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus.

“Ang importante po ngayon, makipag-cooperate po tayo (What’s important now is the cooperation of everyone),” he said.