COVID-19 cases show no signs of slowing down in the short-run. All signs point to a bigger wave than the last one. We are closely monitoring the trends. Although fatality rate shows little signs of ticking up, we are also seeing a slowdown in recoveries due to the surge in cases.
It is a relief that 97% of cases remain mild. However, I am alarmed by the positivity rate, or how many among those who take COVID-19 tests turn out to be positive. We are now at 15% positivity rate, which is higher than the 14.8% rate we recorded in April, foretelling another wave. By all accounts, this coming wave will be bigger than the first one. Our highest was at 23%, in March last year.
As early as December 2020, my team recommended that we need to complete healthcare worker vaccination by this quarter. We predicted then that a new wave is likely inevitable and that we will no longer be able to afford lockdowns. The best we can do is make sure our healthcare capacity can handle new cases.
There are two big pictures involved here: systems and culture. On systems, clearly, we do not have an ambitious-enough vaccination program. We are vaccinating around 10,000 doses per day. At this rate, we will be able to meet herd immunity only by 2055. The pace is unacceptable, and we have to do better.
I have asked the government to issue the implementing rules on the COVID-19 Vaccination Program Act already. We cannot be bogged down by bureaucracy in the middle of a second wave.
The culture has also retreated. Minimum health standards are no longer observed as faithfully. There is a false sense of security in the fact that some vaccines have already arrived. There is also lockdown fatigue.
This will be a bigger wave than the first one. Circuit-breaker measures will no longer work as much as effective vaccination. Overall, lockdowns may even hurt the country more than help. That’s why we need a more ambitious pace of vaccination, combined with stricter minimum health standards and stronger healthcare system support.
We have not seen logistical preparations for mass rollout. After one year, we have not even seen a unified contact tracing system. Only testing and treatment have seen significant progress. We in Congress are frustrated. We authorize every piece of legislation the agencies say they need to deal with the crisis. The President has also given the agencies unprecedented authority. We are still ready to authorize whatever they need. But the agencies have to do better. If necessary, we in Congress will use our oversight powers to make sure they do. (PR)
