THE Department of Health (DOH) on Tuesday welcomed the extension of the declaration of a state of calamity in the country as a means for sustaining the response to Covid-19, as confirmed cases surged to 291,789.
Of the confirmed cases, 56,097 (19.2 percent) are active cases, 230,643 (79.0 percent) have recovered and 5,049 (1.7 percent) have died.
Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said the extension of a state of calamity would mean a better Covid-19 response.
Earlier, the BusinessMirror quoted private economists and analysts as saying that while the extension bodes well for the economy, the government should at all times observe judicious spending to conserve sparse resources.
“[With] the signing of the [extension] of the state of calamity, we can say that we can ensure fast, prompt response for Covid-19 treatment,” Vergeire said.
She stressed it would be easy to mobilize the national government agencies and local government units for the needed resources.
On September 16, President Duterte signed Proclamation 1021 extending the state of calamity “for a period of one year,” or from September 13, 2020, to September 12, 2021, “unless earlier lifted or extended as circumstances may warrant.”
The proclamation also underscored the increasing number of Covid-19 positive cases and deaths “despite efforts and interventions to contain the same.”
On the other hand, law-enforcement agencies, with the support of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, were directed to continue undertaking all necessary measures “to ensure peace and order” in affected areas.
Image credits: Albert Alcain/Malacanang Presidential Photographers Division via AP