MANILA – The government is prepared for the “worst-case” scenario amid the emergence of three new cases of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in the Philippines, according to Malacañang.
“There is no need for alarm or worry because we’re ready. From the very start, we’ve already said that. We’re making advance preparation in addition to the present measures that we have already undertaken,” said Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo.
The Department of Health (DOH), which is primarily tasked to handle the COVID-19 cases, would continue to be “transparent, the Palace spokesman said.
“The DOH is ready. It said that all protocols have been established and all they have to do is implement them. Definitely, (the DOH is) honest. Si Secretary Duque pa,” he added.
Health authorities on Saturday raised Code Red as it confirmed another case of COVID-19 in the wife of a patient earlier diagnosed with the infection, bringing the total number of cases in the country to six.
Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said the alert level was raised as he confirmed the country’s first case of local transmission in the 5th COVID-19 case, a 62-year-old man now suffering from severe pneumonia.
At the early stages of the outbreak in China, the Philippines recorded COVID-19 cases involving three Chinese nationals from Wuhan, China where the deadly virus originated. Two of the Chinese nationals recovered while the other one died.
Despite the new COVID-19 cases in the country, Panelo said that President Rodrigo Duterte’s daily work schedule would remain the same but the Presidential Security Group might limit Duterte’s interactions with the public.
“Knowing the President who doesn’t care less, who couldn’t care less about his own safety from whether virus or any other harm, he will proceed with the schedule. Unless there are other events that will change his movements,” Panelo said./PN
