The Philippines could record more than 7,000 new COVID-19 cases daily in the next days, said president of the Philippine College of Physicians (PCP), Tuesday.
PCP President said in an interview with GMA Network’s Unang Hirit that the COVID-19 backlogs and incubation period still affect the total number of cases in the country.
“Mahirap sabihin na nangangahalati na lang dahil sabi ko nga ‘yung epekto ng modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) hindi pa natin makikita,” Panaligan said.
“Aasahan ko pa nga na puwede pang mas marami pa bukas o mamaya kasi hindi pa natin makikita,” he added.
Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said Monday there was a downtrend in COVID-19 cases and that Metro Manila is ready to go back to less stringent general community quarantine (GCQ).
But for Panaligan, it will take weeks before the effect of the MECQ will be truly observed.
“Hindi pa natin makikita ‘yung epekto ng MECQ. Pangalwa, alalahanin natin may mga backlogs pa rin ‘yan e. Pangatlo, ito ‘yung dati nang, sabihin natin nag-i-incubate period pa, ay ngayon kumokonsulta,” he added.
Also read: Use of rapid test kits caused COVID-19 surge – internist
New COVID-19 cases may reach over 7,000 daily – doctors’ group
“Kahit naman sabihin natin na wala nang MECQ, GCQ (general community quarantine) na, kung magiging pabaya naman tayo, so babalik at babalik ‘yung dami ng nagkakasakit,” he added.
Panaligan urged the government agencies to coordinate closely. He said local government units (LGUs) do not immediately implement the Department of Health’s instructions.
“Ang importante ay ang koordinasyon ng lahat ng mga departamento ng gobyerno kasi doon nagkakawalaan,” he said.
“Merong sasabihin ang DOH, kagaya ng inirekomenda namin pero hindi rin nai-implement e kaagad-agad,” the PCP president added.
For instance, DOH already discouraged the use of rapid testing for screening purposes, but many LGUs are still using it, Panaligan lamented.
Health Undersecretary Rosario Vergeire said Monday DOH would not ban the rapid testing for COVID-19 because it could be useful for those who already recovered.
“Hindi naman kailangan i-ban kasi may gamit pa rin siya sa ating response,” Vergeire said in a virtual press briefing.
“Puwede gamitin ang rapid antibody test sa mga nakaka-recover na, or puwede na ma-tag as recovered. Kasi on the 21st day of the illness of the patient, accurate o sensitive na ang rapid test para makapag-show siya kung nakapag-develop na ang pasyente ng IgG na nagi-indicate na naka-recover na ang pasyente,” she explained.