Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 7) —The Department of Health (DOH) said despite an improved COVID-19 situation, caution must be exercised when comparing the disease to the flu, adding that the former could cause fatal results in vulnerable populations.
“We need to be very cautious in telling people that it is comparable to the flu because we know that kapag ang COVID-19 ay tumama sa mga vulnerable sector — matatanda o di kaya may mga comorbidities — maaaring mag-cause pa rin ng severe o kaya critical na impeksyon at maaari pa ring ikamatay ng ating mga kababayan,” DOH officer-in-charge Maria Rosario Vergeire said in a media briefing on Tuesday.
[Translation: We need to be very cautious in telling people that it is comparable to the flu because we know that when COVID-19 infects seniors or those with comorbidities, it could cause severe or even critical infections which could lead to death.]
Vergeire noted that COVID-19 symptoms may be similar to the flu, but coronavirus cases far outnumber it.
\”For January of 2023, we have reported 45 cases nationally for the flu, compared to COVID-19 which is much higher,\” said Vergeire.
However, Vergeire said this did not mean COVID-19 cases in the country were increasing. In its latest bulletin released Monday, the DOH said the daily average (145 cases) was down 16% from the previous week.
OCTA Research also said the National Capital Region saw its lowest daily case tally on Sunday — 17 cases. This is the lowest count since March 2020.
Despite these lower numbers, the DOH OIC said they remain cautious.
“Marami sa ating mga kababayan they use their antigen test. Hindi para takutin ang mga tao, just saying that is our reality now na hindi lahat naka-capture sa reporting,” explained Vergeire.
[Translation: Many use their antigen test. This is not to scare people, but to let you know of the reality that not everything is captured by the reporting.]
