PH Health Secretary Francisco Duque took back his earlier pronouncement that the Philippines is already in the ‘second wave’ of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic following criticisms from various government entities including the Malacañang Palace.
Earlier, Duque stated that the country has experienced the second wave since March when the enhanced community quarantine was introduced, and pointed out that technically and epidemiologically, the first wave involved three Chinese nationals in January.
During the House health committee hearing, Duque said his previous statement about the second wave of coronavirus was a “casual expression of an epidemiological fact.”
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“Because the first wave was in January, but only three cases. In that epidemiological sense, cases that show a rise or a crest and then a decrease constitute a wave, although a small wave. Then we have nothing for February. Then this was followed by a bigger wave which is now what we consider as the first major wave of sustained transmission. Either way, it can be easily construed that where we are today is really the first major wave,” he added as per reports from the Philippine News Agency.
A number of Cabinet members including Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea and Interior Secretary Eduardo Año among others disputed Duque’s claim.
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Medialdea distanced Malacañang from the earlier statement of Duque, saying the country has yet to experience a second wave.
“Alam mo hindi pronouncement ‘yan ng Presidente ‘yan or ano. Kailan ba lumabas yung second wave (You know, that is not the President’s pronouncement. When did the second wave start)? That we will have to see,” Medialdea said.
