DEPARTMENT of Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire on Wednesday, May 6, said the public should continue to comply with health safety measures and stay vigilant as it is still too early to say that the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) epidemic curve has flattened.
“It is too early to say if we can sustain itong flattening ng curve. Too early to say na talagang nakapag-flatten na tayo ng curve, kaya kailangan nandiyan pa rin iyong ating pag-iingat, nandiyan pa rin iyong pagpapatupad po natin noong ating mga measure para magtuluy-tuloy po tayo dito sa ating nakikitang indikasyon na ito,” Vergeire said.
Epidemiologist John Wong, president of EpiMetrics Inc., earlier said the curve was starting to flatten, but he also said the number of cases will continue to fluctuate as the country ramps up its testing capacity.
Vergeire said the basis for that statement was the longer doubling time in the number of cases.
“Para maging basehan kung tayo ay nagpa-flatten ng curve, ang atin pong ginagawang basehan ngayon ay ang ating case doubling time and iyong ating health system capacity,” Vergeire said.
She explained that doubling time for cases has lengthened to five days and, in some areas, even lengthened to seven days compared to the previous average of two to three days.
“Base po sa analysis ng ating mga eksperto, ang sinasabi nga po, ang ating case doubling time ay humaba na, from two to three days po napakabilis na pagtaas ng mga kaso, ngayon po ay nasa limang araw na tayo,” Vergeire said.
“May iba pa ho na mga sektor or population or areas in the country na nagtatala ng pitong araw na po at mahigit pa – 7 to 7.5 days na po ang kanilang mga naitatala na isang magandang indikasyon para masabi po natin na nag-uumpisa na ho tayong mag-flatten ng curve,” Vergeire said.
Despite this, she said the public should still practice social distancing, frequent hand washing and other precautionary measures against the coronavirus disease (Covid-19).
As of 4 p.m. Wednesday, May 6, 2020, the DOH has recorded 10,004 cases of infection in the country, including 658 fatalities. The DOH also said 1,506 patients have recovered. (SunStar Philippines)