We can defeat the virus – Duterte

MANILA, Philippines — As the global death toll from the novel coronavirus acute respiratory disease (2019-nCoV ARD) continued to rise with no vaccine in sight, President Duterte assured Filipinos last night that “we can defeat the virus.”

In a speech before local government executives, Duterte slammed the “idiots” and “kibitzers in politics” who are using the nCoV crisis to sow fear.

“If it goes out of hand, do not worry,” Duterte said. “I can assure you we can defeat the virus… just believe in the government. In a crisis involving deaths and getting people safe, we will do our very best.”

Meanwhile, the Department of Health (DOH) has recommended the cancellation of “big events and mass gatherings” until further notice amid threats posed by the.

In an advisory signed on Feb. 7, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said the public should avoid organizing and attending concerts and public events or gatherings that draw a huge crowd.

“To further minimize the risk of contracting 2019-nCoV, the public is advised to avoid crowded places and continue to practice self-protection measures,” he noted.

Duque assured the public that “all measures to contain the potential spread of 2019-nCoV infection are being explored, studied and implemented to keep the Filipino people safe from the threats of this infectious disease.”

At a press conference, DOH Undersecretary Eric Domingo said the advisory is really directed at mass public gatherings such as concerts attended by a huge audience.

“So the DOH recommends to maybe postpone or cancel these events. But for example a gathering is very controlled naman and you can take preacautionary measures, you can always push through with them,” he added.

But Domingo clarified it is just a recommendation and “it’s not like it’s illegal to hold a meeting or to hold a convention, especially if you can take precautionary measures.”

He said it is well known that the mode of transmission of the virus is “droplet and close contact.”

“When people are together and you don’t know where everybody came from or if anybody has an illness there’s always that risk and it’s greater if you are close together and you lack precautionary measure,” he added.

In another advisory that Duque signed on Feb. 8, he enjoined the public to “judiciously use masks to prevent the shortage of surgical masks and N95 masks.”

The advisory states that people in good health do not need face masks, which use is recommended only for certain populations.

These are the persons caring for the sick, persons with respiratory infection/symptoms coughing, sneezing and/or fever; and healthcare and other frontline workers.

According to DOH, the N95 masks must be reserved for healthcare and other frontline workers.

These pertain to those attending to patients under investigation (PUIs). Also those entering rooms of PUIS or confirmed nCoV patients to provide care or clean or disinfect the environment, or obtain clinical specimens but they must wear personal protective equipment.

With the mounting nCov cases, Laguna Rep. Sol Aragones urged the Department of Tourism to refocus promotion plans and target domestic tourists instead of foreign travelers that are expected to decline amid the virus scare.

Aragones, chair of the House committee on tourism, warned the DOT that the agency’s P4.45-trillion revenue target for this year will definitely be affected.

In a statement, Aragones said that limitations on foreign travel may require the tourism sector to focus more on promoting domestic tourism in order to offset possible slowdowns in foreign arrivals.

Statistics from the tourism department showed that between January and November 2019, 22 percent of the country’s 7.4 million foreign tourists, or 1.63 million, were Chinese.

China remains one of the Philippines’ biggest foreign markets.

She said the tourism department’s expected receipts could reach P3.79 trillion this year.

The DOT earlier projected that they expect to bring in 9.2 million foreign visitors this year, with a revenue target of P661 billion from inbound tourism.

According to Aragones, government and tourism stakeholders “need to strategize on a prudent way moving forward – one that allows us to sustain livelihoods while protecting lives.”