Sen. Win Gatchalian. Senate PRIB file photo / Henzberg Austria
MANILA, Philippines — The ongoing coronavirus pandemic that has been battering the country for more than a year now has seemingly become an “unending nightmare” for Filipinos, Senator Sherwin Gatchalian said Thursday.
In a tweet, Gatchalian lamented the deaths that were caused by the pandemic. As of March 31, COVID-19 has taken the lives of 13,297 individuals in the Philippines.
“I never said so many ‘condolences’ in a week’s time. I probably sent one ‘condolences’ message practically every day in the last weeks. Parang bangungot ito na hindi natatapos [It’s like an unending nightmare],” Gatchalian said.
I never said so many “condolences” in a weeks time. I probably sent one “condolences” message practically every day in the last weeks. Parang bangungot ito na hindi natatapos.
— Sherwin Gatchalian (@stgatchalian) April 1, 2021
Gatchalian, likewise, lamented how hospitals have become “overwhelmed” by the number of patients being admitted due to COVID-19.
“With our ambulances turned into field hospitals, all I can say is our hospitals are already overwhelmed. Please stay indoors. Huwag na po tayong lalabas. Punong puno na po ang mga ospital natin!” Gatchalian said in a separate tweet on Thursday.
With our ambulances turned into field hospitals, all I can say is our hospitals are already overwhelmed. Please stay indoors. Huwag na po tayong lalabas. Punong puno na po ang mga ospital natin!
— Sherwin Gatchalian (@stgatchalian) April 1, 2021
Gatchalian earlier pointed out that the government’s contact tracing drive has been the “weakest link” in the country’s fight against the pandemic.
“In fact, except for a handful of LGUs, contract tracing is merely for compliance. The little papers that we sign in malls and restaurants are pure toilet papers!” Gatchalian said in a tweet on March 26.
“After 1 year, we still don’t have a unified contract tracing app that is a link of a national database. This is not event rocket science. If Valenzuela, Pasig, Mandaluyong, Antipolo can do it, the whole nation can do it! Kaya pala hindi natin maputol putol ang pagkalat ng virus!” he added.
The country’s total active COVID-19 cases climbed to 130,245 on March 31 following the detection of additional 6,128 infections. The new cases brought the country’s running total of COVID-19 cases to 747,288, according to the Department of Health.