The number of COVID-19 cases in the country has now climbed to 707 after the Department of Health (DOH) reported 71 new cases on Thursday afternoon.
The number of fatalities also jumped to 45, following the reported death of seven patients; while a total of 28 patients have now recovered as the health department reported two recoveries on the same day.
“Ang recoveries po na ito ay palatandaan na hindi dapat haluan ng stigma ang ating mga PUIs o PUM, at lalong-lalo na ang ating mga frontline health workers (The recoveries are a sign that we should not mix stigma with PUIs or PUMs, and especially to our frontline workers),” DOH Sec. Francisco Duque III reminded.
The health secretary added that the number of cases will increase in the coming days as more patients are being tested.
The DOH earlier projected the number of cases might escalate to 75,000 if there is no government intervention such as the enhanced community quarantine.
The DOH and some research institutes have been studying the new modeling estimate so that results of the Luzon quarantine will be seen in two weeks.
Duque has urged the public anew to follow the guidelines set by the government to avoid COVID-19.
“Malalabanan lang natin ito kung mananatili tayo sa loob ng ating mga tahanan, sundin ang social distancing, parating maghugas ng kamay…at itigil ang paninigarilyo (We can fight this if we remain in our homes, follow social distancing, always wash our hands…and stop smoking),” he advised.
Duque has thanked the passing of Bayanihan to Heal as One Act that will help boost the support given to healthcare workers.
“Mapa-regular man o volunteer, sa kakaibang panahon ngayon, sila po ay mabibigyan ng COVID-19 special risk allowance. Ito’y dagdag na natatanggap ng public health workers na hazard pay na binibigay sa kanila ayon sa magna carta of public health workers (Regular or volunteer, in this difficult time, they will be given COVID-19 special risk allowance. This will be an addition to the hazard pay received by public health workers given through the Magna Carta of Public Health Workers),” Duque shared.
“At kung magkaroon sila ng severe infection, bibigyan po sila ng 100,000 pesos upang may pang gastos sila sa kanilang karamdaman (If they get severe infection, we will give them Php 100,000 as financial assistance in case of illnesses),” he added.
There are now six doctors in the country who died fighting COVID-19. The bereaved families of the physicians will be given Php 1 million assistance from the government. – Report from Mark Fetalco
