Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 22) — The head of the House of Representatives’ Committee on Health on Friday called on government officials involved in delivering COVID-19 related information to avoid making conflicting statements, as they may sow public confusion.
Speaking to CNN Philippines’ The Source on Friday, Rep. Angelina Tan, the committee’s chairman, said “Sana kung meron na lumalabas na ganyang announcements, napag-u-usapan doon sa Inter-Agency Management for the Management of Infectious Disease nang sa ganun, tama ang naiibigay na impormasyon.”
[Translation: I hope that they discuss announcements in the IATF to ensure that correct information is delivered.]
Tan was referring to the statement of Health Secretary Francisco Duque III on Wednesday that the Philippines was on a “second wave” of coronavirus outbreak.
Duque cited the findings of epidemiologist, Dr. John Wong, who explained that a wave is the rise and fall in cases, and that the country’s first three cases in January were considered the first wave.
Up to that moment, the consensus was that the country was fighting the first wave of infections and preventing another one. Tan said she among those who got alarmed by Duque’s statement.
“Siyempre nabahala ang iba. Very important ang sinasabi ng namumuno sa pamahalaan. Yung basehan ng mamamayan kung meron bang dapat ipag-alala,” the lawmaker added.
[Translation: Of course, others got worried. The things that government officials say are very important. Citizens use is the information as basis on whether or not they should panic.]
“Very important na nag-u-usap-usap sila (that they talk). Sana nga maging consistent sila sa aspeto na iyon (I hope they become consistent in that aspect),” she said.
A day after Duque made the controversial claim, COVID-19 task force spokesman Harry Roque refuted it, saying he consulted three health experts on the matter.
Roque did not directly invalidate Duque’s claim, but said the confusion may be due to different interpretations of data.
Hours after Roque made the clarification, the Department of Health confirmed that the country has not gone past the first wave of COVID-19 outbreak, as it apologized for the confusion its chief may have caused.
However, Tan said she understands Duque, since he only cited Wong’s interpretation.
