
MANILA – “First wave or second wave, terminolohiya lang ‘yan. Walang epekto ‘yan sa aksyon ng gobyerno,” says former DOH Secretary Esperanza Cabral during a live radio interview on Thursday. (First wave or second wave, it is only a matter of terminology and it has no effect on the action of the government).
She continued that “ang dapat nating alalahanin ay kung ano ang aksyon natin kung may next wave na at hindi ‘yong first wave or second wave ba ito? Mas importante kong malaman kung may next wave ba?” (We must be concerned of what is our action if there is a next wave, whether we call it as first or second wave. It is more important for me to know if a next wave is coming).
Dr. Cabral was among the past health secretaries who were invited by Malacañang to help the president in his decision to lift the enhanced community quarantine in many parts of the country.
She said DOH Secretary Francisco Duque III must have just panicked when he told the senate that we are now under in the second wave of infection citing the findings of an expert epidemiologist.
Sec. Duque disclosed during a virtual senate hearing on Wednesday that the first wave was when three Chinese visitors from Wuhan were tested positive in early March and the second wave was in the end of April when infection data was on its all-time high.
The claim of a second wave was, however, refuted by Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea who said in a published report that the country has yet to reach the second wave of Covid-19 infections. “Alam mo, hindi pronouncement ‘yan ng Presidente. Kailan ba lumabas ‘yang second wave?” he asked. (You know, that is not the pronouncement of the president. When was this second wave came about?).
Dr. Cabral further said the rapid testing conducted by the business groups and private sector is good. “Dapat complementary ito sa ginawa na gobyerno at gagawin sa tamang paraan,” she said. (It must complement with what the government is doing and in the right way).
However, she is doubts the DOH can reach the 30,000 testing mark per day knowing that May 30 is fast approaching. “Dapat 30,000 per day sabi nila, matagal pa yata ‘yon, good luck na lang,” she finally said. (They said 30,000 per day but it is still far away from reality. Good luck anyway).