As the Philippines eases with the restrictions due to declining number of Covid-19 cases as reported by the Department of Health (DOH), Aksyon Demokratiko vice presidential candidate Dr. Willie Ong warned of a possible increase in cases in the country in the next two months based on projections made by the World Health Organization (WHO).
Ong gave the warning after WHO in its weekly epidemiological Covid-19 update reported that Europe again was leading the world in percentages of new cases and deaths from the disease.
“Sa Europe ngayon tumataas uli ang Covid. Sa Europe tumaas ng 10 percent ang namamatay at ang kaso nila tumaas ng 50 percent. Sa Germany nasa fourth wave, fifth wave na sila, tumaas sila ng 40,000 cases. Napuno uli ang ICU nila, nagkulang sila sa health workers. Sa France tumataas na rin [In Europe the Covid-19 cases have increased. The number of deaths have increased by 10 percent in Europe and their cases rose by 50 percent. From fourth wave, fifth wave is happening in Germany, their cases have increased by 40,000. Their ICUs are full, they lack health workers. In France the cases are also high],”said Ong, 58, a cardiologist and internist.
On Sunday, the DOH logged 1,926 additinal cases, bringing the total number of infections in the country to 2,816,980. There were also 3,140 recoveries and 309 deaths.
He said that WHO, in its weekly epidemiological Covid-19 update, reported that Europe again was leading the world in percentages of new cases and deaths from the disease after the number of new cases in Europe rose by 7 percent last week and the number of deaths rose by 10 percent. Africa was the only other region to report an increase in new cases.
He said that WHO also warned that America may be the next.
On Friday, Ong was joined Aksyon Demokratiko presidential bet Manila Mayor Isko Moreno senatorial bets Moro civic leader and women’s rights advocate Samira Gutoc, former Quezon City councilor Jopet Sison and radio host and entrepreneur Carl Balita when he made the warning as he spoke in front of students and barangay workers in Cabuyao, Laguna as part of the Aksyon Demokratiko candidates’ listening tour and dialog with various sectors.
Ong said the same scenario could also happen as the restrictions were eased up adding that a third of the population remains unvaccinated, and this may be another factor that could lead to a rise in Covid-19 cases.
Likewise, he said, a potential rise in Covid-19 cases is the presence of a new Covid-19 variant known as Delta Plus found in North Carolina, USA, which could spread to other countries.
He also lamented the exodus of doctors particularly nurses who opted to go abroad and work there for higher wages also remains a concern and should be immediately addressed by the government.
Ong, however, said that at the moment, Filipinos are still safe from the possible surge in Covid-19 cases which is now happening in France, Germany and the US.
With the country struggling due to the pandemic, Ong lauded Moreno for doing everything he can to ensure the health and safety of Manilenos by purchasing medicines for Covid-19 such as Remdisivir, Tocilizumab and lately, Molnupiravir.