Month: May 2020
-
Can the Philippines’ health care system cope up with a COVID-19 surge?
This April 20, 2020 report published by the UP COVID-19 Pandemic Response Team, offers an assessment of the extent of risk that we will face when lockdowns across provinces in the Philippines are lifted. It states that a majority (81%) of Filipinos infected with the new coronavirus experience little to no complications of COVID-19, while…
-
Crucial COVID-19 data tallied two months late
In this article for ANC, infectious diseases and clinical pharmacology expert Dr. Benjamin Co breaks down the COVID-19 data being reported by the Department of Health to the public. According to Dr. Co, the case fatality in the Philippines is now at 6.74 (compared to 6.73 world average and 2.44 ASEAN average). Dr. Co says that…
-
Philippine government recalls lifting of community quarantines
A day after announcing the lifting of community quarantines in several areas in Luzon, the government has recalled its decision today, May 13, 2020. According to Interior Secretary Eduardo Año, the Inter Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) has decided to retain community quarantines (CQ) in the country, but will subject provinces to…
-
Errors in Philippines’ COVID-19 data spotted by experts
In this article for The Philippine Star, Ratziel San Juan details the various errors and discrepancies in the Department of Health (DOH) data on COVID-19 patients. According to San Juan, the reporting format and protocols has changed several times since March, which has then led to inconsistencies in the data. The errors were discovered by the…
-
A look inside Danish classrooms
Being one of the first countries to re-open its schools, Denmark has become a model for many European countries that are still hesitating to lift lockdowns. Barely a month in, people are the world are asking, how are children in Denmark faring? This 3-minute video from BBC shows us that school may have resumed in Denmark, but…
-
Sweden’s COVID-19 strategy will soon be the world’s
In this article for Foreign Affairs, authors Nils Karlson, Charlotta Stern, and Daniel Klein discuss the benefits of the Swedish COVID-19 strategy and why more countries will soon emulate it. The authors also discuss the many reasons why countries must begin to ease lockdowns as soon as they can. Editor’s Note: The success of the Swedish strategy…
-
WHO: The coronavirus may never go away
In a virtual presser held Wednesday, May 13, 2020, WHO emergencies director Dr. Mike Ryan said that the coronavirus may become another endemic virus in our communities. It may never be completely eradicated, even when vaccines have become available. Editor’s Note: This article strengthens two points we have been repeating in this website. First, that lockdowns…
-
The Avoided and Unanswered Question: People Just Don’t Get It!
It is now almost two months into the lockdown here in the Philippines. And most people, especially those who make fateful decisions, just don’t get it. Here is what I mean. On 12 May 2020, the national government announced moves to ease the lockdown in most parts of the Philippines. Iloilo Province, for example, went…
-
DOH says curve is flattening, but fight against COVID-19 continues
In this article written by Pia Ranada and Bonz Masambol for Rappler, health undersecretary Mario Rosario Vergeire says that the Philippines is starting to flatten the curve, but the COVID-19 danger is far from over. Vergeire says that the positivity rate in the country is dropping, as well as mortality doubling time. Vergeire reminds everyone to…
-
Is there a coronavirus conspiracy?
In this article published on his own website, British author and general practitioner Vernon Coleman refers to the coronavirus pandemic as a “manufactured crisis” which will be used by opportunists to further their own agenda. It can become an excuse for the British government to withdraw its plan to leave the EU, as well as an…
