Post from Krizette Laureta Chu
Do you hear the people tweet?
Tweeting the tweets of the pa wokes?
It is the hashtag of people
Who will not be in power again
When the tweeting of your heart
Are only 3,000 hashtags
They want to rule the Philippines
because they have 3,000 hashtaaaaags
Will you join in their crusade?
Parang awa na ninyo...
Dagdagan nyo ang hashtag
Para #LetLeniLead (o ayan dagdag na)...
Post from Tio Moreno
We #ExplainExplainExplain:
Of the 38,075 recoveries reported today, 909 were based on Regional Epidemiology & Surveillance Unit (RESU) updates and 37,166 was part of the time-based tagging methodology (cases with mild disease or asymptomatic whose date of onset of illness or specimen collection was more than 14 days ago and shall be tagged as recovered as per DOH DM 2020-0258) from the enhanced data reconciliation efforts with local government units.
The same reconciliation effort also explains the 3,954 new cases reported today, of which 1,320 cases are fresh cases, and 2,634 are late cases. Of the newly reported cases, 3,801 (96%) occurred in July, of which, 1,602 (42%) were from NCR and 955 (25%) from Region 7.
Of the 23 deaths, 19 (83%) in July, 3 (13%) in June, and 1 (4%) in April. Deaths were from NCR (12 or 52%), Region 7 (8 or 35%), Region 3 (1 or 4%), and Region 4A (1 or 4%); 1 case (4%) had an unspecified region.
There were sixty-six (66) duplicates that were removed from the total case count. Of these, six (6) recovered cases and two (2) deaths have been removed.
Moreover, one (1) case that was previously reported to have recovered has been validated to have died and already included in the count of new deaths.
These numbers undergo constant cleaning and validation.
Reference with WHO’s policy:
Post from Tio Moreno
Friend, everything takes time. We had a global shortage of PPEs and test kits because of most of the country around the world demand for it.
Fair Allocation of Scarce Medical Resources in the Time of Covid-19
Fair Allocation of Scarce Medical Resources in the Time of Covid-19
Post by Tio Moreno
Since March and as of June 20, the Philippine Government has procured and distributed the following:
- Coveralls: 1,685,661
- Face masks: 9,287,550
- Gowns: 1,644,123
- KN95 masks: 1,629,640
- N95 masks: 459,024
- Face shield: 1,107,011
- Gloves: 3,607,470
- Goggles: 940,623
- Non-invasive ventilators: 74
- Head caps: 1,744,855
- Thermal Scanners: 3,066
- Aprons: 742,600
- Sanitation tents: 10
Also, this figure has changed now due to demand. Dumami kasi number of cases lalo na sa NCR 🙄
Post from Tio Moreno
- Not true.
- The Balik Probinsya program of Senator Bong Go is a long term policy program. This is a program for urban residents who wish to have a renewed life in the regions.
- It should not be mistaken for the Hatid Tulong program for locally stranded individuals or LSI. These are stranded OFWs, students, laborers, tourists, and the like.
- Proper measures were undertaken to ensure the stop of the spread of the virus. Prior to the LSI returning back to their provinces, they undertake tests and are given health, quarantine, and police clearances.
***There are reported cases of LSIs who were tested positive, but is the government to be blamed on this? No! What should be done for them? Let them stay in their boarding houses? Don’t you want them to see their families?
If LSIs who just traveled from one place to another were found out positive, how much more those who protested or yong iba pang pagtitipon? May Sonagkaisa pa kayong nalalaman 🙄
Hindi pwede e call out mga nagrarrally pero e call out ang mga LSIs? Tangina niyo!
If you have better solutions for those LSIs then lay it down. Wag puro sisi sa gobyerno.
Post from Tio Moreno
Friend, logistics takes time, procurement takes time, the test takes time.
We need an RT-PCR test that requires Biosafety level 2 labs. In February, we only had 1 Biosafety level two lab that’s capable of handling 250 tests per day. If you are so aggressive to say that we need to build more laboratories, please understand that it’s not easy as ordering an item from Shopee, Amazon, or Lazada.
The lab needs to have at least three rooms: virus inactivation, reagent preparation, and the PCR machine room. And there are 5 stages of validation required by DOH. Stage 1 includes a 133-item self-assessment checklist; Stage 2 includes an on-site visit by the DOH, the RITM, and the World Health Organization (WHO). Stage 3 includes a three-day personnel training session at RITM; By Stages 4 and 5, RITM re-tests five samples tested by the lab to confirm if they arrive at the same results, after which they will be certified.
Good thing that we already had 28 testing labs as of May. So if 1 lab can cater 250 tests, that means 28 labs can cater to 7000 tests per day. But is it enough for Targeted Testing? No. Hence, our government has worked to increase the capacity of targeted testing to 30,000/ day.
Post from Tio Moreno
- We have not taken out any loans yet because of COVID-19.
- There is no other country in the world that is debt-free. Economic powerhouses have debts that are bigger than their GDP.
- Our foreign loans are much smaller now compared to the time of President Aquino.
- Our China loans are minuscule compared to our loans from Japan, Korea, and other institutions.
- Again, no country can survive without credit.
Post by Tio Moreno
- The National Government has embarked on the biggest social financial aid program in history.
- DSWD: Social Amelioration Program
- DTI: Loans to MSMEs, a moratorium on rentals
- DOLE: TUPAD and CAMP
- DOF: Small Business Wage Subsidy, a moratorium on loan payments
- DA: Loans to the agricultural sector
Post by Tio Moreno
- ICU beds: 1,298 (34% occupied)
- Isolation beds: 8,802 (37% occupied)
- Ward beds: 3,008 (35% occupied)
- Mechanical ventilators: 1,941 (19% occupied)
These figures have changed now as our number of cases continues to increase and while our govt continues to build more facilities.
Post by Tio Moreno
- No other country in the world has done mass testing. We target testing those who are vulnerable, immunocompromised, the ones coming from overseas.
- Our testing capacity is already at 32,000 tests per day.
- As of June 21, we have conducted 594,499 tests already of which 6.9% were positive of COVID-19.
- 46 RT-PCR laboratories
- 17 licensed gen expert labs
Post by Tio Moreno
- The over-all policy-making body is the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases. We all know this as the IATF.
- The IATF recommends policies for the approval of the President.
- The Chair of the IATF is the Secretary of Health, who happens to be a doctor!
- Upon policy approval of the President, the implementation is led by the National Task Force on COVID-19. We all know this as NTF.
- The Chair of the NTF is the Secretary of National Defense.
- The Chief Implementer is the Secretary for Peace Process, Reconciliation, and Understanding.
- The Deputy Chief Implementer is the Presidential Adviser on Flagship Projects.
- Policymaker: Doctor.
- Implementers: Officials who happen to be former generals and mostly civilians who are experts in operations.
Post by Tio Moreno
I was browsing twitter earlier and found out that MECQ is a top trend. When I checked on the leading tweets, they seem to be blaming the government for the alarming number of positive cases.
Our first COVID19 case was IMPORTED not LOCALLY TRANSMITTED. This was reported on January 30.
Other countries first cases date:
Vietnam: Jan. 23
Japan: Jan. 16
Thailand: Jan. 13
Singapore: Jan. 23
We automatically banned travels from China last February 2,2020 following the positive confirmations of a Chinese tourist who had a travel history & was able to visit Wuhan, China.
Other Countries travel ban dates:
Vietnam: Feb. 1
Japan: Feb. 1
Thailand: Mar. 11
Singapore: Jan. 29
It was only on March 5 that a couple with no travel history was found positive, that means LOCAL TRANSMISSION is already present. This transmission happens when there is interaction. Hence, on March 9, Duterte declared this as a PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY.
Despite the government’s mandates, it’s evident that there are still others who find a way to converge, gather in a massive number, and become the vectors for the disease. Pinoy talaga, may COVID na, nagsasabong (cockfight) pa.
Since many cases were uncovered thereafter, WHO announced COVID19 as pandemic on March 11. NCR was lockdown on March 15. We had our National lockdown on March 17. We are actually the first country in Southeast Asia to respond to this pandemic by restricting mobility thru lockdown.
Other countries lockdown dates:
Vietnam: April 1
Japan: April 7
Thailand: April 3
Singapore: April 3
We didn’t have a lockdown in January because if the gov’t did not weigh things out & didn’t listen to the directives from WHO, DOH, and local medical experts, PHILIPPINES would be bankrupt by now. Remember that the gov’t should mitigate carefully on Epidemic Risk Management to minimize health and economic consequences.
Therefore, Looking at how other countries respond to the COVID19 pandemic, Duterte’s decisive and timely approaches are just appropriate and calculated based on the Philippines ' financial capabilities and health care system capacities taking into account social and economic repercussions.
The increasing number of COVID19 cases in this country is not a valid basis for saying that the government is incompetent and that they haven’t done something to end it. There simply isn't any logical causal relationship between evidence and verdict.
People who have the virus were not infected by the President or government officials. Nor were they ordered to get themselves infected.
A more reasonable hypothesis would be to say that the number of people now infected by this virus is proof that most people in this country are idiots. So stupid in fact that as soon as the quarantine is relaxed, we drive the statistics sky-high.
Tapos e blame niyo naman gobyerno bakit bumalik sa MECQ? Ask yourselves,
WHAT HAVE YOU DONE SO FAR TO HELP OUT THE GOVERNMENT ON ITS FIGHT AGAINST COVID19?
For more information on the nation’s fight against COVID-19, encouraging everyone to read and understand the policies. Resources are:
- www.COVID19.gov.ph
- http://covid19.HealthyPilipinas.ph
- www.OfficialGazette.gov.ph
- www.PNA.gov.ph
- www.PTV.ph
- www.RadyoPilipinas.ph
- www.BalikProbinsya.ph
Post by Anna Malindog-Uy of the theaseanpost.com
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| Armed policeman a checkpoint along a road in Cebu City, the central Philippines on 24 June 2020, after the government tightened its enhanced community quarantine restrictions amidst rising cases of COVID-19 infections in the city. (AFP Photo) |
After more than three months of hard lockdowns, the Philippines is now trying to ease out quarantine restrictions for its economy to bounce back. While the focus is on saving lives and looking after the health and well-being of every Filipino, developing economies like the Philippines with a population of around 109 million people – a high percentage of which come from hand-to-mouth households – simply cannot afford the use of containment measures like hard lockdowns for the entire country indefinitely. Hence, the government has considered steps to safely and gradually reopen the economy.
As the Philippines reopens its economy by easing out restrictions after successful lockdowns, it has experienced a reverse trend in the number of COVID-19 positive cases. The number of deaths has been reduced to single-digit, while the number of positive cases has increased significantly to three-digit.
This reversal is somewhat expected because more people are now back on the streets. One of the contributing factors to the rise in COVID-19 positive cases is the influx of returning Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs), of which some have tested positive upon arrival in the Philippines. For instance, as of 2 July, out of the 99,353 returning OFWs, 2,424 were confirmed as being COVID-19 positive.
Likewise, the 30 June World Health Organisation (WHO) Philippines COVID-19 Situation Report, also stated that the higher number of cases in the past month was also in part due to: (a) enhanced surveillance, (b) the processing of backlog data; (c) real-time reporting through the mobile application COVID KAYA; and (d) expansion of the laboratory network for COVID-19 testing – allowing for a more realistic picture of the actual number of cases in the country.
The report further stated that the “national transmission assessment” for the Philippines remains in Stage 2 or “localized community transmission”, with data indicating an increasing trend, and likely higher transmission in the National Capital Region (NCR) and Central Visayas particularly Cebu city, with evidence of cases exported from these two regions to other areas with lower levels of transmission.
Silver Linings
Though the reverse trend in the number of positive cases is quite alarming, the COVID-19 situation in the Philippines is not all bleak. There are silver linings, which the country can capitalize on as it continues to fight the novel coronavirus. For instance, it is a fact that the Philippines is one of those countries which has: (a) the lowest deaths per one million population, and based on the WHO report mentioned earlier, the proportion of deaths has decreased to 3.4 percent (b) the country has one of the lowest total cases per one million population; and (c) it has a relatively low number of serious, critical COVID-19 patients.
Based on the Worldometer forecast, as of 3 July 2020, the deaths/1M population was 12; the total positive cases/1M population was 368, and the number of serious critical cases is 166. Secretary Carlito Galvez of the National Task Force (NTF) on COVID-19 has claimed that more or less there is already a recovery rate of around 40-50 percent, which has not been reported, given that the number of recoveries declared is only of those who have been admitted to hospitals.
Another indicator suggesting that the COVID-19 situation is still manageable is the percentages for hospital beds and mechanical ventilator utilization for COVID-19 patients. As of 2 July, just 46.57 percent of the 3,305 ward beds are occupied, while only 40.78 percent of the 9,330 isolation beds are occupied. The more comforting information is the fact that out of 1,341 Intensive Care Unit (ICU) beds, only 36.32 percent are occupied; while out of the 2,000 mechanical ventilators, only 22.45 percent are in use.
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| Source Various |
Another reassuring development is the fact that while the COVID-19 infection rate in the Philippines is fluctuating, it is also declining – from 20 percent (during the period when testing was limited) to roughly five percent now. According to the WHO, a five percent or lower positivity rate is an affirmative indicator that a country’s management of its COVID-19 cases is improving. However, the government of the Philippines must work harder to further reduce the positivity rate to below five percent if it wants to secure victory over the deadly COVID-19 virus.
The reproduction number (Rt) based on the latest data is Rt = 1.05 ± 0.03, which means each COVID-19 positive individual is infecting an average of just 1.05 persons. While reassuring, the goal is for Rt to be less than one and to sustain it. This would mean that, on average, an infected person is infecting less than one person, eventually stopping the transmission of the COVID-19 virus.
The lowering Rt trend is due to efforts in social/physical distancing, wearing face masks, Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), washing of hands, and other means to stop the spread of the virus. This shows that the prescribed minimum health standards by the government are not only vital but also effective in the country’s fight against the virus.
Realities And Responses
Like many countries in the developing world, the Philippines lacks hospital capacity, with a public health-care system that is in dire need of improvement, and this condition has been magnified many times over because of the pandemic. The country also has not much productive capacity for producing or manufacturing medical grade PPEs, medications used in the palliative care for COVID-19 cases, and other critical medical supplies and equipment like ventilators. These are just some of the realities that the country is confronted with within the advent of the novel coronavirus. Despite such a challenging situation, the Philippines was able to ramp-up its health-care capacity.
To date, the total beds capacity dedicated to COVID-19 patients has increased from 13,557 as of 27 May to 13,976 on 2 July – an increase of around 419 beds. The dedicated beds for COVID-19 cases in Local Isolation and General Treatment Areas for COVID-19 Cases (LIGTAS-COVID Centers) as of 2 July was 50,532. There has also been an increase in the bed capacities of the Mega LIGTAS COVID facilities located both, in the NCR and Region III (Bulacan) from 1,348 beds as of 27 May, to 3,193 on 2 July – an increase of around 1,845 beds.
There was also an increase in the number of mechanical ventilators from 1,964 as of 27 May to a total of 2,000 mechanical ventilators – an increase of about 36 mechanical ventilators. The government was also able to stabilize the supply and demand for PPEs in the country. In terms of testing laboratory strengthening, as of 2 July, there are 74 licensed testing laboratories certified to conduct COVID-19 testing by the Department of Health (DOH).
50 laboratories are using Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) technology and 20 laboratories are using GeneXpert, with an additional 173 public and private laboratories under assessment. This is quite a significant increase compared to just a single laboratory in March.
Likewise, the daily testing capacity of the country has also improved to 51,302 tests per day as of 19 June. As of 3 July, based on the Worldometer forecast, the actual number of total COVID-19 tests had reached 762,362, and the test per 1 million population was 6,957. This again is a huge improvement. But then again, the central challenge, which has not been overcome yet by the government is the maximization of the daily testing capacity – the number of actual daily tests that are conducted.
As of 2 July, the total number of individuals tested daily was only 16,369, way below the country’s daily testing capacity. This is a persistent challenge for Health Secretary Francisco Duque of the DOH. Nonetheless, the government seems confident that it can assuage such a challenge with the recent arrival of one million polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test kits and 10 million test kits purchased by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) and the DOH.
On the other hand, the contact tracer (CT) program of the government, which is critical in breaking the “chains of transmission” of the COVID-19 virus, is still weak. As of 18 of June, there were 54,042 CTs nationwide who are part of the 3,397 local “contact tracing teams” (CTTs), but only 21,341 are trained CTs. According to the WHO, the ideal contact tracer to population ratio is 1:800 to fully cover the over 109 million Filipinos. In effect, the country needs another 135,000 CTs.
The Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) as the lead agency of the government’s CT program, has proposed the hiring of around 50,000 CTs – as opposed to the estimated 82,537 CTs needed – to the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF). It is expecting approval on its proposal soon to commence the hiring process. Though such an initiative is late in coming, it is still a much needed and welcome initiative.
Conclusion
While the Philippines is not yet in the same category of countries that have been remarkably successful in containing and eradicating the COVID-19 virus-like Vietnam and Thailand – the national response from the government has achieved relative success and is continuously being improved by the IAFT and policymakers. The national response of the Philippines against the novel coronavirus is a work in progress and is evolving. It is dependent on emerging realities on the ground and evolving knowledge about the virus.
Comparing the Philippines to other countries in terms of COVID-19 case doubling times and case-fatality rates, and even in terms of success rates in the reduction of COVID-19 cases must be done with caution and utmost consideration of factors such as differences in healthcare system capacity, economic status, living conditions, population, and population density. These factors vary depending on the country.
Likewise, national responses (i.e. quarantine and health-related measures) of countries to their respective COVID-19 outbreaks, to a considerable degree, varies depending on their respective contexts. The pandemic’s impact on each country differs in some ways. However, benchmarking on what works and what doesn’t is important.
Hence, studying how other countries have managed and contained their outbreaks is immensely valuable, as the Philippines improves and re-adjusts its public health measures and strategies towards a more successful response to this global health crisis.
The Philippine government is facing a difficult balancing act of having to save lives and restarting the country’s economy. It must also continue to build health capacity, further expand its testing, tracing, isolation, and treatment programs, while ramping-up its health advocacy on the importance of practicing social distancing, wearing face masks, washing hands, and reminding people to be healthy and to maintain good hygiene practices.
All these measures are important to mitigate the spread of the virus, to reassure the public that new COVID-19 outbreaks like what is happening in Cebu City currently can be dealt with in an orderly fashion while minimizing economic disruptions.
