“So matagal pa ito. And there are reports I said that I don’t know if it’s — subject to confirmation — na may bagong COVID found in Israel. So, whether we like it or not, kung totoo ‘yan, it will reach again the shores of our country,” Duterte said in his weekly address on Monday (March 21) aired over PTV and Radyo Pilipinas.
Duterte said he is asking the Congress to retain the unspent fund under the Bayanihan Law if ever it decides on new legislation. He said the money was returned to the National Treasury.
“But huwag galawin ‘yan kasi that is in preparation for another surge of another variant. Nagmu-mutate itong monster na ito and hindi natin malaman kung ano talaga ang katapusan nito. But I guess it would be there or here for the longest time.”
For his part, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III supported the President’s stance on masking policy, saying data shows complying with minimum public health standards (MPHS) is very effective in preventing the spread of COVID-19.
“So, sa nakitang magandang dulot ng compliance sa MPHS, aming inirerekomenda, Mr. President, na huwag natin itong pakawalan. Tama po ‘yung sinabi niyo kanina, Mr. President. Thank you for underscoring the importance of our minimum public health standards,” Duque said during his report to the President.
“Masking, hindi pa natin po ito pwedeng pakawalan. Kinakailangan po patuloy natin sundin ang panuntunan ng atin pong Department of Health at ng IATF. Ngayon, sa konteksto naman, sa Pilipinas naman ang paggamit — itong lokal na mga datos, naobserbahan din natin ang magandang bunga ng pagsunod sa MPHS.”
The health chief reported that from March 15 to 21, the country has recorded 3,431 new COVID-19 cases, or 490 new infections a day.
This figure is lower than the cases recorded from March 8 to 14, which posted 3,951 new cases, with a daily average of 564 cases.
Infections are also decreasing in the National Capital Region (NCR), Duque reported. The recent daily average is at 158, or 5-percent lower compared to the 166 cases per day recorded from March 8 to 14, which is consistent with the decreasing trend nationally.
Duque said that aside from the strong adherence to the minimum public health standards, the country’s wide vaccination coverage is another factor driving the drop in the number of infections.
As of March 2022, 72 percent of the target population is fully vaccinated, which is equivalent to 65 million Filipinos getting the full dose of the jab.
Photo: Presidential Communications