IMAGE: Daniella Marie Agacer
MANILA, Philippines — The state of calamity imposed all over the country due to COVID-19 should be extended further until the first quarter of 2023 in light of a possible spike in cases during the holiday season, a group of private hospitals recommended on Thursday.
Private Hospitals Association of the Philippines (PHAPI) president Dr. Jose de Grano said that active COVID-19 cases in the country currently stands at 17,000 and this could further increase during the holiday season due to increased mobility and lax health protocols.
“Tuloy-tuloy pa rin po ‘yan [cases], lalo na po ngayon na magkakaroon tayo ng mga holiday season. Kita naman po ninyo na halos lahat hindi na nagma-maskara. So ibig sabihin may posibilidad pa rin na tumaas,” he said.
(The cases are still increasing, especially now during the holiday season. You can also see that many people are no longer wearing masks so there really is a possibility of a spike in cases.)
“Sa tingin po natin dapat ituloy po ‘yan kahit po siguro until the first quarter of the year,” De Grano added.
(So we think that the state of calamity should be extended until the first quarter of the year.)
The pandemic-induced state of calamity in the country is set to expire on Dec. 31, 2022.
The use of face masks in the Philippines — both indoors and outdoors — is currently optional, excepts of places like hospitals, ambulances, and public land, air, or sea transportation.
READ: Palace: State of calamity due to COVID continued for ‘possibly 3 months’