MANILA, Philippines – Health Secretary Francisco Duque III claimed that the Philippines has "successfully flattened the curve" of COVID-19 infections in the country.
Duque made the conclusion on Wednesday based on the longer COVID-19 case doubling rate and mortality doubling time. He explained that the case doubling time or how fast the number of infections double in an area already slowed from a 2.5-day window during the early days since the pandemic started. In Metro Manila, Duque said it now takes between 8-12 days for infections to double.
"We have successfully flattened the curve since April. The metrics for arriving at that conclusion of flattening the curve is actually one, the case doubling time of the COVID-19 infection has actually become longer," Duque said.
"The other metric to say that we've flattened the curve is also the mortality doubling time has also got longer and is now in the moderate risk classification," he added.
Duque continued that despite flattening the curve, the health agency will continue to find ways to improve their ways to curb the spread of COVID-19.
"While we have flattened the curve, I have earlier indicated that this was able to provide us a window of opportunity to improve and increase, one-up our health system's capacity," Duque added.
UPDATE: Duque has taken back his earlier controversial claim and said COVID-19 infection curve ‘bent’ not ‘flattened’ since April.
Last May, Duque claimed that the country was already experiencing the "second wave" of COVID-19 infections. He said the "first wave" began back in January when three Chinese nationals in Manila were declared COVID-19 positive. Since then, Duque said the increase in the number of COVID-19 infections has not stopped.
After Duque went under fire for his comment, the health agency later on clarified and apologized for the confusion. They said the country is still experiencing the "first wave" of the infections.
— Sally, The Summit Express
Duque made the conclusion on Wednesday based on the longer COVID-19 case doubling rate and mortality doubling time. He explained that the case doubling time or how fast the number of infections double in an area already slowed from a 2.5-day window during the early days since the pandemic started. In Metro Manila, Duque said it now takes between 8-12 days for infections to double.
"We have successfully flattened the curve since April. The metrics for arriving at that conclusion of flattening the curve is actually one, the case doubling time of the COVID-19 infection has actually become longer," Duque said.
"The other metric to say that we've flattened the curve is also the mortality doubling time has also got longer and is now in the moderate risk classification," he added.
Duque continued that despite flattening the curve, the health agency will continue to find ways to improve their ways to curb the spread of COVID-19.
"While we have flattened the curve, I have earlier indicated that this was able to provide us a window of opportunity to improve and increase, one-up our health system's capacity," Duque added.
UPDATE: Duque has taken back his earlier controversial claim and said COVID-19 infection curve ‘bent’ not ‘flattened’ since April.
I would like to clarify my statement made earlier during the Pre-SONA on flattening the curve.— Francisco T. Duque III (@SecDuque) July 15, 2020
Our case doubling time in April passed the 3 day doubling time mark; NOW, July 15 - it is at 8 days CDT (past the 7-day doubling time mark).— Francisco T. Duque III (@SecDuque) July 15, 2020
This means we bent the curve in April after the March ECQ but we are seeing an increase in cases due to the expanded testing capacity and community transmission as we allow movement of people.— Francisco T. Duque III (@SecDuque) July 15, 2020
Ang mahalaga ay ma-maintain ang bilang ng mga kaso at manageable levels para hindi natin ma-overwhelm at mapagod ang ating healthcare workers. Kaya’t importante na sundin natin ang minimum health protocols- magsuot ng mask, maghugas ng kamay, at mag-physical distancing.— Francisco T. Duque III (@SecDuque) July 15, 2020
Last May, Duque claimed that the country was already experiencing the "second wave" of COVID-19 infections. He said the "first wave" began back in January when three Chinese nationals in Manila were declared COVID-19 positive. Since then, Duque said the increase in the number of COVID-19 infections has not stopped.
After Duque went under fire for his comment, the health agency later on clarified and apologized for the confusion. They said the country is still experiencing the "first wave" of the infections.
— Sally, The Summit Express
