98 percent recovery rate eyed
This can be achieved with more stringent health protocols in place especially after the country has achieved the 92 percent rate
The Philippines is targeting to reach about 98 percent recovery rate in its number of coronavirus cases, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III disclosed on Saturday.
Duque said that this can be achieved with more stringent health protocols in place especially after the country has achieved the 92 percent rate.
He noted that public adherence to minimum health standards remains to be the main solution in keeping the infection at a low rate but emphasized that consistency is the key.
This also came after the Philippines reported one of its lowest single-day tally of new cases on Friday which he mentioned should be sustained further.
“The public is able to comply ... especially to our minimum health standards... but we’re hoping it will be more consistent... so that we can further decrease our cases,” he said.
At present, he said that the attack rate or number of infections per 100,000 population has decreased in recent weeks as the country remains at the lower range of the moderate risk level.
Duque said that they are aiming to further decrease the number of cases until such time that it is at the low risk.
Despite this, specific areas such as Davao, Metro Manila, Quezon City and Manila City are among the areas being monitored after seeing a slight increase in their cases which local government units are already managing.
In July, the Department of Health (DoH) revised its protocols for recovered patients dubbed as the “Oplan Recovery” where more patients were considered as recovered depending on number of days in which the symptoms have disappeared.
It contributed to a massive increase in the number of recoveries which sparked doubts among the public despite claims that it is backed by science and within the international standards.
Meanwhile, as the government fears that the global supply might hamper third world countries including the Philippines’ access to COVID-19 vaccines, he said that continuous negotiations are being done with other manufacturers.
Duque said part of this is the fact that the country lacks the ability to produce its vaccines that’s why there is heavy reliance to import available supplies.
He said depending on the submission and processing of applications by vaccine firms, the best-case scenario to have the supplies may possibly be by March of 2021.
On Friday, the head of the vaccine development expert panel of the Department of Science and Technology Dr. Nina Gloriani said that so far they are still waiting for the answers of Janssen and AstraZeneca to the replies of the board on their submitted documents.
On the other hand, Russian developer Gamaleya is still yet to submit additional documents to check the initial developments of their study.
Of the five firms willing to conduct a trial in the country, only Sinovac Biotech and Clover Pharmaceuticals both from China have gone past the initial phase.
Aside from this, another clinical trial this time led by the World Health Organization is also set to start by January of next year which will include other leading international vaccines against COVID-19.
The country lacks the ability to produce its vaccines that’s why there is heavy reliance to import available supplies.