Numbers will rapidly increase

BETWEEN March 15 and March 24 there has been a 294.29 percent increase in coronavirus disease (Covid-19) cases in the country.

Here is a quick rundown on the cases between those dates:

March 15 - 140

March 16 - 142

March 17 - 187

March 18 - 202

March 19 - 217

March 20 - 230

March 21 - 307

March 22 - 380

March 23 - 462

March 24 - 552

The rapid increase in the number of cases is not surprising. This, considering that additional test kits have arrived.

In a SunStar Philippines report, DOH Assistant Secretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said the number of cases will continue to increase with more test kits available and with the establishment of five sub-national laboratories in the country.

The World Health Organization said mass testing together with isolation and intensive contact tracing will allow nations to fight Covid-19 efficiently. This coupled with the public following strict social guidelines like washing of hands, wearing face masks, and staying at home.

In the coming days, we can expect the numbers to soar. With the rate of increase of confirmed Covid-19 cases in the Philippines, we can expect the numbers to reach the 1,000 mark in a week’s time.

At present, the number may still be below the actual number of Covid-19 cases in the country. It is a known fact that there are still some areas in the country that still lack test kits.

What we can do to help the government right now is to stay at our homes as much as possible. We only come out when we need to buy food, medicine, and other essentials. Staying home is important since there are those who are not showing symptoms of Covid-19 despite having infected by the virus. If you are starting to feel unwell, you must also stay at home.

The public doing their part of staying at home and avoiding mass gathering may help slow down or stop the spread of the virus within the community.

It is also important for the public to be honest and transparent when being inquired by health workers. This could save them, the health worker, and those who they have made close contact with.

In the coming weeks, the number of Covid-19 cases in the country will continue to rise, dramatically or steadily. We hope that whatever strategies and measures our government and local government units are doing will result to a slow down in the number of cases weeks later.

In these times, let us help one another in preventing the spread of the disease.