Chiz to DOH: Adopt Covid best practices in other countries

By Mar S. Arguelles

Sorsogon Governor Francis “Chiz” Escudero on Monday, Sept. 6, has urged the Department of Health (DOH) and the COVID-19 Pandemic Task Force to look into the best practices of other countries that could be applicable to curb the rising cases in the Philippines.

Escudero in a statement said “With no end in sight to the growing number of Covid-19 cases, DOH/NIATF should be more proactive, creative, and look at the best practices in other countries; see what applies to us instead of trying to “reinvent the wheel all over again.’’

The Philippines is the only country with the hardest and longest lockdown in the world since last year, imposing varying degrees of community quarantine restrictions across the country in a bid to stop the spread of the coronavirus. Metro Manila and other provinces considered as high risk were placed under the strict enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) that practically halted economic activities.

ECQ was recently relaxed in these areas to modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) for two weeks. Despite restrictions to the movement of people, however, the country has seen its cases of infections reaching record highs.

The UP Pandemic Response Team predicted a grim picture for the country, saying that the total Covid-19 cases may hit 3 million to 4 million by yearend.

The active cases reached 148,594, according to the DOH, after posting 22,366 fresh infections—the highest single-day record since the pandemic was declared early last year.

The new tally brings to almost 2 million cases in the country with 33,300 total deaths. Over 1.7 million have so far recovered.