Tricycle riders in Marikina City undergo mass testing using rapid test kits for COVID-19 on May 19, 2020 amid the modified enhanced community quarantine. Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News
MANILA- The Philippines has yet to see a second wave of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea said Wednesday as he distanced Malacañang from the announcement of Health Secretary Francisco Duque III.
Duque on Wednesday told senators that the Philippines was already seeing a second wave of the COVID-19 outbreak.
"Alam mo hindi pronouncement yan ng Presidente yan or ano. Kailan ba lumabas yang second wave? That we will have to see because as far as I know, wala pa tayo sa second wave," Medialdea told reporters on the sidelines of an event.
(That is not the pronouncement of the President. When did that second wave appeared? That we will have to see because as far as I know, we are not yet there.)
Medialdea added that Filipinos should not wait for a second wave of the COVID-19 outbreak.
"Wag nating i-expect, wag natin asahan pwede ba," he said.
(Let's not expect it please.)
Duque's remarks were backed by Dr. John Wong of Epimetrics Inc. who also said that the Philippines was already on the second wave of the COVID-19 outbreak.
The health chief did not clarify but Wong said the second wave began in early March.
The Philippines as of Wednesday has a cumulative 13,221 confirmed COVID-19 cases, including 842 deaths and 2,932 recoveries.
- With reports from Arianne Merez, ABS-CBN News
second wave, COVID-19, pandemic, coronavirus, Philippines coronavirus, coronavirus update, health