Amid confusion, Duque insists info on coronavirus cases should come from DOH

MANILA, Philippines — Information about the latest developments on the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in the Philippines should come from the Department of Health (DOH), not from the local government units (LGUs).

Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said this Monday amid public confusion on the COVID-19 reporting as some LGUs issued advisories in light of the reported new coronavirus cases in the Philippines.

“Dapat ang pinanggagalingan po ng lahat ng information mula sa Department of Health kasi kami po ang may hawak ng mga detalye, ng mga impormasyon,” Duque said in a press briefing in Malacañang.

The health chief said they will work with LGUs to “harmonize” coronavirus reporting protocols to avoid further confusion.

“Kinakailangan repasuhin muli itong ating reporting protocols at tignan natin kung paano mai-align ‘yung mga LGU reporting protocols at ma-harmonize natin para hindi nagkakaroon ng tila nagrereport ang LGUs ang dating sa mamamayan e ibang kaso ito sa nareport ng DOH earlier,” Duque explained. “So we will just harmonize, we will do the review and alignment.”

The DOH announced late Sunday four new cases of the new coronavirus. The patients were all separately admitted to different hospitals in Metro Manila.

The DOH likewise clarified that the coronavirus cases announced by the LGUs of Marikina, Quezon City, and Pasig, were all part of the ten cases it earlier reported.

The DOH reported on Monday afternoon 10 more coronavirus cases in the country, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 20.

President Rodrigo Duterte has declared a state of public health emergency amidst the rising number of coronavirus cases in the country.