Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 18) — The Department of Health (DOH) will bring back the daily COVID-19 bulletins if it detects an uptick in new infections. However, these bulletins will take a new format.
“Kapag ka nakita natin na may uptick uli ng kaso, definitely para ma-track natin lahat, ito ay ibabalik as to the number of cases, but this will be different,” Health Usec. Ma. Rosario Vergeire said in a DOH media forum on Friday.
[Translation: When we see again an uptick in cases, we will definitely bring it (daily bulletin) back to track the number of cases.]
According to Vergeire, the daily bulletins will still highlight the number of severe and critical cases, as well as hospital admissions — much like the current weekly design.
She said this is because the government hopes to shift the public’s mindset to focus only on cases that need attention, while accepting to live with the virus.
“(W)e all know that the virus will never go away,” Vergeire asserted. “Kailangan alam natin na anytime, there will be mild and asymptomatic cases pero ang improtante sa atin walang magkaroon ng severe cases, walang ma-ospital, walang mamatay.”
[Translation: We need to know that anytime there will be mild and asymptomatic cases but what’s important is to prevent severe cases, hospitalizations, and deaths.)
Infectious diseases expert Edsel Salvaña agreed, stressing that the mindset is more important than the numbers.
“Pupunta na tayo doon sa tinatawag na endemic mindset. For instance, ang trangkaso hindi naman tinetest araw-araw,” he said.
[Translation: We are approaching the endemic mindset. For instance, we don’t test for flu every day.]
The daily case numbers can still be accessed in the DOH website.
