‘No sign of improvement:’ Bayan says mere selfie from Duterte won’t fix health crisis
MANILA, Philippines — There appears to be no major improvement in the way the country handles the surge of COVID-19 cases, if activist group Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) is to be believed.
In a statement on Friday, Bayan secretary-general Renato Reyes said that the Department of Health (DOH) numbers has not shown any improvement even with Metro Manila, Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna, and Rizal being under an enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) for almost two weeks.
Earlier, DOH’s COVID-19 bulletin showed the highest single-day increase in deaths with 401, bringing the death toll to 14,520. As of now, the total number of active cases is at 178,351, as 12,225 new cases were reported.
READ: PH logs biggest daily COVID-19 death toll at 401; 12,225 new infections
“Two weeks into the ECQ and there seems to be no major improvement in our . We have 12,000 new cases, 401 new deaths (highest) and 178k active cases (highest),” Reyes said.
He further noted that a mere selfie from President Rodrigo Duterte — referring to Senator Bong Go’s photo to disprove claims that the Chief Executive is dead or in a dire condition — cannot solve the problems brought by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Article continues after this advertisement“These are the problems a presidential selfie cannot fix. These are the problems that cannot be addressed through lockdowns alone. Still no expanded mass testing, isolation, mass hiring and expansion of health care system. We are being set up for extended lockdowns,” Reyes claimed.
Article continues after this advertisement“The public is not assured in any way by this government. The public has had enough of grandstanding and pointless rants. We deserve better. Now,” he added.
After Duterte canceled his public address twice, netizens were quick to question where the leader is, making speculations that the President may have suffered a serious medical ailment.
READ: #NasaanAngPangulo trends after Duterte cancels address twice
READ: Andanar dispels social media rumor that Duterte suffered mild heart attack
However, Malacañang officials have insisted that Duterte is in good shape, and has only canceled his address because officers from the Presidential Security Group have contracted COVID-19.
READ: Palace: Duterte remains ‘fit and healthy for his age’
The five areas mentioned above have been under an ECQ for almost two weeks, due to the spread of more infectious COVID-19 variants of concern that have led to a new surge.
The ECQ would be subject for review over the weekend, but a lot of observers and government critics, Reyes included, believe that the ECQ may be extended.
Earlier, the Department of Trade and Industry hinted at opening the economy of the areas under the ECQ bubble as these centers of commerce cannot be locked down longer.
READ: Gov’t looks at partially reopening ‘NCR Plus’ in phases
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