Palace admits halting of Red Cross COVID-19 tests factored in drop of average daily cases

MANILA, Philippines — Apart from the public’s compliance with minimum health standards, Malacañang said Wednesday the Philippine Red Cross’ (PRC) decision to stop conducting COVID-19 tests “somehow contributed” to the decrease in coronavirus cases.

The country saw a 25 percent decrease in new COVID-19 cases last month from an average number of 2,517 to 1,887, the Department of Health said.

“Well, I’m sure somehow the action of PRC in stopping their testing somehow contributed because less testing of course means less numbers,” presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said in an interview over CNN Philippines.

The PRC earlier halted conducting COVID-19 tests for the government after the Philippines Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) failed to settle some P930 million it owed for previous tests.

It resumed its full COVID-19 testing for the government after PhilHealth settled half of its debt.

“But I think by and large, people have been compliant with minimum health standards and of course, we have the President no less endorsing in a commercial that people should wear masks, wash hands and observe social distancing,” Roque said.

“I think people know by now what to do to further prevent the spread of the disease and they have been cooperating,” he added.

The Philippines has so far recorded 385,400 COVID-19 cases. Of the number, 348,830 already recovered and 7,269 succumbed to the respiratory disease.

EDV