National Task Force Against COVID-19 and vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr. said Tuesday that another surged of cases could occur in June or July.
“We have to expect this coming June or July baka magkaroon na naman tayo ng peaking o surge,” Galvez said in an interview with ANC.
(We have to expect this coming June or July that we might have another peak or surge.)
Galvez said different COVID-19 variants now in the Philippines and the efficacy of the vaccine would be determined six to nine months after the vaccination started.
“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,” he said.
(The COVID-19 pandemic is far from over. There is a wrong notion that the COVID-19 crisis is already finished in some other countries. It can reappear anytime.)
Also read: Gov’t can take over hotels if patient facilities are lacking: Duterte
Another COVID-19 surge may occur in June or July: Galvez
“We have to expect for the worst when we are planning something and we are now preparing for it,” he added.
Galvez also noted the “cycle” of cases in Cebu, National Capital Region and Bacolod City during the first wave of COVID-19 in 2020.
“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,” Galvez said.
Meanwhile, Galvez said the government expanded the intensive care capacity of the healthcare system during the two-week enhanced community quarantine (ECQ).
“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,” Galvez said.
(If we will see our current situation, we have not seen modernization since 1991 and we have a very small number of ICU beds. In Metro Manila, the ICU beds we have right now are 1,395. Building an ICU cannot be done overnight.)
