Coronavirus: Philippines’ doctors cry out for fresh lockdown as virus cases surge
DPA
Published: 3:04pm, 1 Aug, 2020
Why you can trust SCMP
Doctors in
the Philippines
are urging the government to reimpose a lockdown in the capital of Manila for two weeks to recalibrate its response to the
pandemic
, amid a warning that the country is losing the battle against Covid-19.
In an open letter to President
Rodrigo Duterte
, nearly 70 groups of doctors, nurses and other health care workers called for a two-week “time out” amid the government’s efforts to reopen the economy, which has included easing restrictions throughout the country.
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“We are waging a losing battle against Covid-19, and we need to draw up a consolidated, definitive plan of action,” they said in the letter that was also addressed to the health minister and head of a national coronavirus task force.
“We propose that the two-week enhanced community quarantine be used as ‘time out’ to refine our pandemic control strategies, addressing the … urgent problems,” they added.
Police and army personnel stand at a checkpoint in Manila amid the capital’s coronavirus lockdown in March. Photo: AFP
The groups said putting the capital of Manila under lockdown again would allow authorities to address problems with hospital workforce deficiencies, failures in case finding, isolation and contact tracing, as well as transport and workplace safety, and public compliance.
They also want the country’s Department of Health to be the lead agency in the fight against the pandemic and not leave its implementation to local government units.
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“Health care workers are united in sounding a distressed signal,” Jose Santiago, president of Philippine Medical Association, said. “Our health care system has been overwhelmed.”
Duterte on Friday kept the area around the capital under a more relaxed general community quarantine while imposing localised lockdowns on villages with high infection rates. He said Filipinos may return to their normal lives by December amid global progress in the search for a vaccine.
Health workers wearing protective suits perform rapid coronavirus tests on people in Manila earlier this week. Photo: AP
The number of coronavirus infections in the Philippines has been surging since the middle of July. As of Friday, the country’s total caseload was 93,354, with the death toll at 2,023.
“The health sector cannot hold the line for much longer,” the groups warned. “Our health care workers should not bear the burden of deciding who lives and who dies. If the health system collapses, it is ultimately the poor that is most affected.”
Even as Manila and surrounds has the highest number of active virus cases, more businesses including gyms and drive-in cinemas have been allowed to reopen. Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez said on Friday the economy has started to recover and that consumers must start spending.
Presidential spokesman Harry Roque said the strict lockdown in Metro Manila had served its purpose and other strategies need to be identified, including “stringent enforcement of minimum public health standards, massive targeted testing, intensified tracing and quarantine of close contacts”.
Additional reporting by Bloomberg
- In an open letter, nearly 70 doctors’ groups and other health care workers called for a two-week ‘time out’ from reopening efforts
- Infections have been surging in the country since mid-July, prompting fears that the health care system is already overwhelmed
DPA
Published: 3:04pm, 1 Aug, 2020
Why you can trust SCMP
Doctors in
the Philippines
are urging the government to reimpose a lockdown in the capital of Manila for two weeks to recalibrate its response to the
pandemic
, amid a warning that the country is losing the battle against Covid-19.
In an open letter to President
Rodrigo Duterte
, nearly 70 groups of doctors, nurses and other health care workers called for a two-week “time out” amid the government’s efforts to reopen the economy, which has included easing restrictions throughout the country.
Duterte asks Filipinos to ‘endure’ coronavirus curbs, pins hopes on China vaccine
31 Jul 2020
“We are waging a losing battle against Covid-19, and we need to draw up a consolidated, definitive plan of action,” they said in the letter that was also addressed to the health minister and head of a national coronavirus task force.
“We propose that the two-week enhanced community quarantine be used as ‘time out’ to refine our pandemic control strategies, addressing the … urgent problems,” they added.
Police and army personnel stand at a checkpoint in Manila amid the capital’s coronavirus lockdown in March. Photo: AFP
The groups said putting the capital of Manila under lockdown again would allow authorities to address problems with hospital workforce deficiencies, failures in case finding, isolation and contact tracing, as well as transport and workplace safety, and public compliance.
They also want the country’s Department of Health to be the lead agency in the fight against the pandemic and not leave its implementation to local government units.
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31 Jul 2020
“Health care workers are united in sounding a distressed signal,” Jose Santiago, president of Philippine Medical Association, said. “Our health care system has been overwhelmed.”
Duterte on Friday kept the area around the capital under a more relaxed general community quarantine while imposing localised lockdowns on villages with high infection rates. He said Filipinos may return to their normal lives by December amid global progress in the search for a vaccine.
Health workers wearing protective suits perform rapid coronavirus tests on people in Manila earlier this week. Photo: AP
The number of coronavirus infections in the Philippines has been surging since the middle of July. As of Friday, the country’s total caseload was 93,354, with the death toll at 2,023.
“The health sector cannot hold the line for much longer,” the groups warned. “Our health care workers should not bear the burden of deciding who lives and who dies. If the health system collapses, it is ultimately the poor that is most affected.”
Even as Manila and surrounds has the highest number of active virus cases, more businesses including gyms and drive-in cinemas have been allowed to reopen. Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez said on Friday the economy has started to recover and that consumers must start spending.
Presidential spokesman Harry Roque said the strict lockdown in Metro Manila had served its purpose and other strategies need to be identified, including “stringent enforcement of minimum public health standards, massive targeted testing, intensified tracing and quarantine of close contacts”.
Additional reporting by Bloomberg