Number of Cases of COVID-19 in The Philippines: By: Max Macauyag

Number of cases of COVID-19 in the Philippines
By: Max Macauyag
The Philippines is one of the nations that struggle to contain the

spread of Coronavirus Pandemic.
In Southeast Asia, Philippines is second to Indonesia by the most

number of confirmed COVID-19 cases as of today 18 April 2020.
Source:
https://www.npr.org/sections/coronavirus-live-updates/2020/04/
17/836783432/indonesia-now-has-the-most-confirmed-covid-19-
cases-in-southeast-asia_
As of today, 18 April 2020, the Philippines has recorded 5,878

confirmed cases of covid19. The number of fatalities is 387 and
the number of recoveries is 487.
According to the report presented by Philippines department of
health to the World Health Organization dated 15 April 2020:
- Out of the total 5,453 confirmed cases reported in the

Philippines until today, 55% are male, with the most
affected age group 60-69 years (19.7%)
- Out of the 349 confirmed deaths, 69.5% are male, with the
most affected age group over 70 years (33.7%)
So what are the Department of health and the allied

agencies doing to contain the situation?
1. DOH is closely monitoring individuals who manifested signs
of respiratory infection and had a history of travel to China,
and is coordinating with WHO and China Center for Disease
Control for updates.
2. DOH is also enhancing its coronavirus laboratory testing
capacity, hospital preparedness, rapid response, and its risk
communication and information dissemination. Personal
Protective Equipment are made available at the Bureau of
Quarantine, Centers for Health Development, and DOH
Hospitals.
3. The Bureau of Quarantine, meanwhile, is working with
airlines and airport authorities to strengthen border
surveillance, while the Epidemiology Bureau is heightening
its community surveillance.
Source: https://www.doh.gov.ph/2019-nCov/FAQs
The Department of Health is not alone in the fight of

coronavirus.
The Philippines congress enacted the Bayanihan to Heal as One

Act through a special session on 23 March 2020. This act
authorized the President to exercise powers necessary to carry
out urgent measures related to the Covid-19 situation. This law
allows the president to "reallocate, realign, and reprogram" a
budget of almost ₱275 billion ($5.37 billion) from the estimated
₱438 billion ($8.55 billion) national budget approved for 2020.
The Government needs an enormous budget to sustain the

growing number of Personal Protective Equipment by the
frontliners, the medicines, the health care facilities and
transportation of the frontliners and the affected COVID-19
persons.
Businesses are temporarily closed
Large and small business sectors, public and private companies

have been temporarily closed. This includes the public
transportations and Establishments. People are ordered to stay at
home. All of these are being done to contain the spread of
coronavirus and yet the number of affected persons is
continuously increasing.
So what is lacking? Why does the number of confirmed

covid-19 cases suddenly spike?
Well, in my personal opinion, the reason why the Philippines

Covid-18 cases continuously increasing is because of the
following:
1. Department of Health (DOH)
Late advice of the Department of Health to place the

Philippines especially the capital region into quarantine.
Before the coronavirus outbreak, we heard a number of
cases reported from our neighboring countries. Some
Nations already imposed strict national quarantine yet the
Philippines continues to engage its daily activities. No
social distancing, no proper plans or actions and most
importantly there was no travel ban imposed from
entering the country. So the carrier of the virus continues
to roam around the country unknowingly affecting the
people around them.
2. People of the Philippines
Some of my fellow countrymen despite the national orders

to stay at home during the Enhanced Community
Quarantine (ECQ) continue to go outside. The number of
violators during the ECQ exceeds 100,000 - Philippines
National Police.
From March 17 to April 10, the total number of violators

was recorded at 101,974.
This is broken down to:
Luzon: 60,040
Visayas: 18,514
Mindanao: 23,420
Source:
https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/news/nation/7335
59/number-of-violators-during-enhanced-community-q
uarantine-exceeds-100-000-pnp/story/
Most of these violators are forced to go outside to find foods for

their daily consumption. The poor families are most affected
during this crisis. No savings, no livelihood and no foods.
Imagine, when you wake up every morning, your first problem is
how to feed your family for the whole day.
In the televised public address of President Duterte on late

Monday night, 30 March 2020, he said that “We have allotted
₱200 billion for low income households who are badly affected by
this crisis. Beneficiary households will receive emergency support
for their two months based on the regional minimum wage,”.
The Department of Social Welfare and Development is tasked to

implement the 5000-8000pesos social amelioration program to
help the Poor communities cope up for their daily living while the
state is under the enhanced community quarantine.
But despite the financial assistance, there are still community

quarantine violators.
Conclusion
So is it safe to conclude that the continuous increase of confirmed

COVID-19 cases is due to poor responses i.e lack of
comprehensive plannings and actions or is it because of some
uncooperative citizens?
In this time of global pandemic, the best and effective approach

to stop COVID-19 from killing many lives is COOPERATION among
stakeholders that includes the citizens who the state and the
government specially the frontliners are protecting so much even
the cost of their lives.

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Number of cases of COVID-19 in the Philippines

By: Max Macauyag

The Philippines is one of the nations that struggle to contain the

In Southeast Asia, Philippines is second to Indonesia by the most

As of today, 18 April 2020, the Philippines has recorded 5,878

- Out of the total 5,453 confirmed cases reported in the

So what are the Department of health and the allied

The Department of Health is not alone in the fight of

The Philippines congress enacted the Bayanihan to Heal as One

The Government needs an enormous budget to sustain the

Businesses are temporarily closed

Large and small business sectors, public and private companies

So what is lacking? Why does the number of confirmed

Well, in my personal opinion, the reason why the Philippines

1. Department of Health (DOH)

Late advice of the Department of Health to place the

2. People of the Philippines

Some of my fellow countrymen despite the national orders

From March 17 to April 10, the total number of violators

This is broken down to:

Most of these violators are forced to go outside to find foods for

In the televised public address of President Duterte on late

The Department of Social Welfare and Development is tasked to

But despite the financial assistance, there are still community

So is it safe to conclude that the continuous increase of confirmed

In this time of global pandemic, the best and effective approach

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