Philippines records largest daily increase in virus deaths
10 more deaths take the toll to 88, while the tally of infections rise to 2,084, with 538 additional cases, says official; Duterte warns ‘abusive’ officials taking advantage of war against virus
The Philippines recorded on Tuesday its largest daily increase in coronavirus deaths and infections, as it ramped up testing with the arrival of thousands of kits from abroad and the opening of new laboratories.
Ten more deaths took the toll to 88, while the tally of infections rose to 2,084, with 538 additional cases, said health ministry official Maria Rosario Vergeire.
The ministry has opened new labs and run more than 15,000 tests, a five-fold jump from about 3,000 last week, she said, adding that more hospitals were seeking government approval to function as testing centres.
“We have six more laboratories to conduct tests,” Vergeire said. “We are also conducting contact tracing to find possibly infected persons.”
Philippine hospitals are struggling with a shortage of protective gear, manpower and testing capacity, as are hospitals elsewhere.
The Philippines, the third country after China and Italy to order home quarantine for a large part of its population of 107 million had until recently reported fewer cases than expected, with many deaths. Authorities had attributed that to a lack of testing kits and lab capacity.
President Rodrigo Duterte has put retired generals among his cabinet in charge of the task force battling the crisis, saying its management requires military-style discipline.
Meanwhile, Duterte warned “abusive” and “corrupt” officials taking advantage of the war on the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) even as he announced that the government has prepared $40 billion to help the estimated 18 million poor families suffering from the scourge of the dreaded disease.
In his nationwide televised address on Monday night, Duterte threatened to impose sanctions on officials who steal or politicise the distribution of food packs to their constituents to alleviate their plight from COVID-19.
“You know, people sometimes think they own whatever they receive from the government. This is not yours, neither is it mine,” Duterte said in a mix of Filipino and English in his address which was delayed for about eight hours, which his spokesman announced was to start at 4pm on Monday.
“If I discover some embezzlements, some hoarding there as well as divert food intended for the poor you better think twice,” he stressed. “I am not a cruel person. But if there is a police report, I will order your arrest and detain you until this problem is over.”
At the same time, Duterte announced that the government has prepared $40 billion intended to benefit mainly the estimated 18 million poor families throughout the country, who are suffering the adverse impact of COVID-19. The amount, Duterte noted, constitutes the “largest and widest social programme” as he elaborated: “We have $40 billion given me by Congress to spend. I will use the money to benefit everyone. Those who have no jobs, who have no part-time jobs. The rich will be excluded.”
According to Duterte, the programme aims to benefit a total of 18 million poor families throughout the country, who are to get various amounts ranging from $100 to $160 each within a span of two months.
The funds were recently included in a law approved by the Senate and the House of Representatives that also imposed a state of national calamity due to COVID-19 and granted special powers to the president to deal with the virus whose rapid spread prompted the World Heath Organisation (WHO) to declare a pandemic.
Some critics, however, pointed out that the government has yet to release the money to the intended beneficiaries amid assurances from officials for its quick implementation.
Nevertheless, officials explained the delay was due mainly to their failure prepare the final list considering that the names of each of the beneficiaries nationwide have yet to be collated and verified.
This developed as Interior Secretary Eduardo Agno said extending the lockdown scheduled to end of April 15 was not “advisable,” warning of its adverse impact especially on the country’s economy.
“It is not advisable to extend the deadline,” Ano, a retired military general pointed out, “because our economy will suffer greatly. Let’s take the remaining two weeks seriously so we can solve this.”