Health Secretary Francisco Duque III told President Rodrigo Duterte that the Philippines is still in the first wave of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) transmission.
“Mr. President, we’re actually on the first major wave of sustained community transmission. ‘Yun pong nabanggit ko na second wave, my assumption, my statement was based on the article that was published by Dr. John Wong,” Duque told Duterte.
A minute later, the president advised Duque not to be “touchy” about the issues and critics at hand.
“Alam mo. ‘Wag ka masyadong touchy sa issues. Because always there would be pro and cons. Pakinggan na lang natin because this is a democracy… Alam ko ikaw you are hard-pressed and I know your situation,” the president said.
[You know, don’t be too touchy with issues at hand. Let’s just listen to them because this is a democracy. I know you are hard-pressed and I know your situation.]
The health department earlier said that the Philippines is still in its first wave of COVID-19, contrary to Duque’s first claim.
