Sacrifices Needed to Prevent Increase in COVID-19 Cases, Says DOH

Maria Rosario Vergeire

MANILA, Philippines – With Europe seeing a rapid rise in new coronavirus cases in part due to “pandemic fatigue,” the Department of Health (DOH) advised the public on Wednesday to accept that “small sacrifices” must be made to avoid an increase in Infections

The Undersecretary of Health, María Rosario Vergeire, said that the DOH understood the fatigue that everyone lived these days due to the restrictions imposed to control the spread of the virus. But people, he said, must also understand that they can no longer return to life as they knew it before the pandemic.

“That’s why we have the new normal. We have to remember that this new normal comes with small sacrifices like always wearing a mask, face shield, practicing distancing and washing your hands, ”said Vergeire.

Several European countries such as France, Italy, Spain, Germany and the United Kingdom are currently experiencing a new wave of new infections, and experts attribute this in part to pandemic fatigue or the public feeling less motivated to observe health measures. against COVID-19. , the serious respiratory disease caused by the new coronavirus.

Hopefully, Vergeire said, when the economy gradually reopens, new cases may emerge. But he stressed that this can be mitigated by strict compliance with health measures.

“If we all cooperate and enforce these minimum health standards, hopefully this will not happen to us. Little by little we are reopening the economy while balancing everything to prevent this type of situation from occurring in the country, “he said.

Vergeire reiterated that the number of new cases is not the only factor the government considers to impose stricter blocks. The main determinant, he said, is whether the health system of a particular community is able to cope with the increase.

“We’re not just looking at the numbers … If an area sees an increase in cases, but its healthcare system can cope, the utilization rate [of critical care facilities] it is low, the tests are appropriate and there is efficient contact tracing, a recommendation for stricter quarantine measures may not be necessary, ”said Vergeire.

Octa’s research group previously proposed that stricter quarantine measures be imposed on Bauan, Batangas; Calbayog, Western Samar; and General Trias, Cavite, due to the increase in cases in the last two weeks.

Ventilation guidelines

Regarding the “one seat apart” rule that will be imposed in public vehicles, Vergeire clarified that the distancing measure “was not really alleviated” as it was only intended to better communicate the pattern.

But to help ensure this doesn’t cause an increase in cases, Vergeire reminded the Department of Transportation to “strictly enforce” the guidelines the DOH had issued on proper ventilation in enclosed spaces, such as avoiding the use of recirculated air. in vehicles.

On Wednesday, the DOH reported 1,910 additional coronavirus cases, bringing the national count to 346,536.

Of the new cases, 1,639 became ill between October 1 and 14, while 207 became ill in September. Metro Manila accounted for a third of the new infections, 624, followed by Cavite (219), Batangas (104), Rizal (91) and Negros Occidental (63).

In the first 14 days of the month, a total of 17,574 cases were registered nationwide. New infections were down 35 percent compared to the same 14-day period last month, when there were 27,324 new cases.

It was also an improvement over the August 1-14 period, when 31,942 cases were recorded.

More deaths

The DOH said 579 more patients had recovered, bringing the total number of COVID-19 survivors to 293,860. The death toll, however, rose to 6,449 with the death of 78 more patients.

Of the recently reported deaths, 64 died this month, 10 in September, one in August and July, and two in June.

Thirty-five of the deaths were from Metro Manila, 12 from Calabarzon, seven from central Luzon, six from northern Mindanao, five from Western Visayas, three from Ilocos, three from Davao, two from the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, and one each from Bicol, Central Visayas, Eastern Visayas, Zamboanga and Soccsksargen.

Recoveries and deaths left the country with 46,227 active cases, of which 84.5 percent were mild, 10.5 percent asymptomatic, 1.6 percent severe, and 3.3 percent critical.

As of midday Wednesday, a total of 3,976,980 patients had been tested for the coronavirus by the 147 accredited laboratories.

DOH also warned people who had recovered, saying they shouldn’t be complacent and think they were already immune to COVID-19.

Reinfection

Vergeire said the health agency was documenting every possible case of reinfection as reports of recovered people getting sick again around the world increased, with the second infection reportedly being more serious.

“Now we are requesting data from all our areas so that we can better study this. These [reported cases] they are all experiential. It has yet to be completed to become an official study so that we have enough evidence, “Vergeire said.

“For now, we are providing information to those who have had COVID-19 that there is no immunity passport. Just because you have been sick before does not mean that you will no longer have [the virus], “she added.

Earlier, the director general of the World Health Organization, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, said that while most patients developed an immune response to the disease, the UN agency did not yet know how long it could last.

“[W]We don’t know how strong or long-lasting that immune response is, or how it differs for different people. We have some clues, but we don’t have the whole picture, “said Tedros.

That is why, he said, it is important that the public continue to practice respiratory etiquette, observing physical distancing and avoiding confined, cramped and crowded spaces to avoid infection. INQ

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