Palace touts low virus death rate as PH ranks 20th in countries with most cases

In this file photo, a health worker performs a COVID-19 swab test at a gymnasium in Navotas City, Philippines, Thursday, Aug. 6, 2020. The capital and outlying provinces returned to another lockdown after medical groups warned that the country was waging a losing battle against the coronavirus amid an alarming surge in infections. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)

MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang on Friday touted the country’s low coronavirus disease (COVID-19) mortality rate even as the Philippines ranks 20th in the list of countries with the most coronavirus infections.

“Still, look at the critical mortality rate. We’re still at 1.75 which means that although the numbers are up we are able to take care of those who get severely and critically ill,” presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said in an interview over CNN Philippines’ The Source.

“That I think is what matters most because in a pandemic the fear is that many of us will die. Some are dying, (but) not as many as other countries and, of course, it’s because we have improved our critical care facilities,’ he added.

“We have learned from the past and we know how to take care of COVID-19 patients better,” he went on.

On Thursday, the Department of Health (DOH) reported 2,415 new COVID-19 cases, pulling up the country’s total number of infected to 314,079.

This brings the country to the 20th spot with the most confirmed infections, surpassing Pakistan’s caseload of 312,806.

The Philippines already has the most COVID-19 cases in Southeast Asia.

Of the country’s total cases, 254,223 have recovered while 5,562 have died. This leaves the number of active cases or currently ill patients at 54,294.

Globally, the United States still has the most coronavirus cases with 7.5 million cases, followed by India with 6.3 million cases, Brazil with 4.8 million cases, and then by Russia at 4th place with 1.2 million cases.

/MUF