![“Hindi pa po tapos ang COVID [crisis]. Nakita po natin, there is a wrong notion na COVID is already finished in some other countries. It can reappear anytime,” says National Task Force Against COVID-19 chief implementer and vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr. PN FILE PHOTO](https://www.panaynews.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/galvez-696x436.jpg "galvez")
MANILA – The country could experience another surge in cases of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in June or July, National Task Force Against COVID-19 chief implementer and vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr. warned.
“Hindi pa po tapos ang COVID [crisis]. Nakita po natin, there is a wrong notion na COVID is already finished in some other countries. It can reappear anytime,” Galvez told ABS-CBN News on Tuesday.
For him, the surge is possible due to the presence of various COVID variants in the country and the vaccine’s efficacy will be determined six to nine months after the rollout.
Galvez said the government is planning for the surge in urbanized areas like Metro Manila, Cebu, and Bacolod City where a “cycle of infections was observed during the pandemic’s onset last year.
“Until such time that there is already a definite cure or definite elimination for COVID, that is the time that we will see what we call the economic recovery,” he said.
Last month, the country experienced a surge in cases of COVID -19, forcing the government to place the National Capital Region (NCR) Plus under enhanced community quarantine for two weeks.
During that time, Galvez said the government was able to “expand” the intensive care capacity of the healthcare system in the country.
“Kung titingnan natin ang current situation, since 1991 wala tayong naging modernization napakaliit ng ICU beds natin. Sa Metro Manila, the ICU beds we have right now is 1,395. Building an ICU, di puwedeng overnight,” he said.
On Sunday, President Rodrigo Duterte approved the recommendation to place NCR Plus under modified ECQ until the end of the month./PN
