DOH backtracks from earlier statement, says country ”in the first wave” of COVID-19

May 22, 2020

The Department of Health (DOH) backtracked from saying the country is in the second wave of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak.

In a televised press briefing Thursday, DOH - Health Promotions and Communication Service Director Beverly Ho said: "The DOH confirms that, yes, we are in the first wave, driven by local community transmissions."

"We apologize for the confusion that this has caused," she added.

She said the first wave began through a local community transmission of COVID-19 in March.

Ho said the present wave peaked last March 31 when the country registered the highest number of COVID-19 cases in a day at 538.

"We are still in this wave," said Ho.

In a Senate hearing  Wednesday Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said the Philippines is experiencing the second wave of the COVID-19 outbreak.

In its televised press conference, Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said the country saw the first epidemiological wave in January when three Chinese tourists tested positive for COVID-19.

Vergeire said  the local transmission of cases in March was the second epidemiological wave, although it can be considered as a first major wave of COVID-19 cases.

"We hope that this does not in any way distract us from what we really need to do to change the course of this pandemic," said Ho.

The DOH has said minimum public health standards must be done, which are frequent washing of hands, physical distancing, wearing of masks, and regular disinfection. DMS