Philippines in second wave of COVID-19: Duque

May 20, 2020

Health Secretary Francisco Duque III told a Senate hearing Wednesday that the Philippines is experiencing the second wave of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infections after ''relatively small first wave'' in January.

''Now, we are on the second wave (of COVID-19 infections). We are doing everything to flatten the curve so we have enough time to raise the capability of our health systems,'' Duque told the Committee of the Whole.

Duque added that Sinopharma, China's biggest pharmaceutical firm, offered to include the Philippines in their  global clinical trials for a vaccine against COVID-19.

"They have one already but there will be a long process of clinical  trials to ensure its safety and efficacy... Nothing is clear as of the moment,'' said Duque.

Duque said there are 148 patients and 24 hospitals which signed up for a global medical trial under the  World Health Organization.

He said there are patients who are starting to enroll in clinical trial for Avigan, manufactured by Fujifilm of Japan and there are three hospitals which are employing the convalescent plasma therapy espoused by Senator Sonny Angara.

The Philippines' new COVID-19 cases reached 13,221, with 2,932 recoveries and 842 deaths, the Department of Health said Wednesday.

Duque said it is important Filipinos follow minimum health standards, such as wearing face masks and using disinfectants; reduce transmission by observing cough etiquette and reduce contact by following social distancing. DMS