Galvez: Number of COVID-related deaths issued in real time, no backlog

Presidential Peace adviser and concurrent National Task Force COVID-19 Response Chief Implementor Carlito Galvez Jr. FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — Concurrent National Task Force COVID-19 Response Chief Implementor Carlito Galvez sees “no backlog” in the reportage of the number of deaths due to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), especially in Metro Manila.

In an interview with radio station DZMM on Tuesday, Galvez said the report submitted by the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA)—which includes data on the number of deaths and cremated bodies—are “real time.”

“Nakita ko naman po sa ginagawa po ngayon lalo na sa Metro Manila, tumutulong po ang MMDA so nakapagbasa po ako daily ng report nila [MMDA is helping in Metro Manila and I read their daily report],” Galvez said.

“Nakalagay po talaga doon ‘yung number of deaths and number of cremated so nakita ko walang backlog eh. Talagang real-time yung report,” he added.

(Their report includes the number of deaths and the number of cremated bodies so I see that there really is no backlog. Their reports are real-time.)

Galvez, however, admitted that there is a “gray area” particularly on patients under investigation (PUI) who died without receiving the results of their tests especially in far-flung areas.

“I believe sa ngayon ang medyo tinatawag nating gray area is yung mga PUIs na namatay ng hindi nai-report kung ito ay COVID positive [I believe the gray area right now concerns the PUIs who died without any report that they are COVID-19 positive],” Galvez said.

“’Yung sa ibang lugar po talaga hindi po accessible ang ating testing. Let’s accept the reality na dito sa Mindanao, isa lang ang testing center natin—ang Southern Mindanao Hospital—at tsaka dalawa po dito sa Visayas. So ‘yun po ang medyo tinatawag nating gaps,” he added.

(Other areas are not accessible. Let’s accept the reality that in Mindanao, there is only one testing center and two in Visayas. These are really our gaps.)

As of April 20, there are 6,459 confirmed COVID-19 cases in the country, with the death toll reaching 428.

The global death toll of the disease is now at 165,273. The most number of deaths were recorded in Italy with 23,660 fatalities, followed by Spain with 20,453 deaths.

Edited by JPV