QUEZON CITY, (PIA) -- As the country observes the anniversary of the announcement of lockdown in the country due to the COVID-19 pandemic, DOH Technical Advisory Group member Dr. Edsel Salvana recalls, “On that day in March 2020, I had high hopes that as a country, we could face the threat of COVID-19 together to save lives. Despite all the political noise and partisan rhetoric, most people worked hard and helped one another. We pulled through.”
“The pandemic seems to be coming to a close, and we have maintained extremely low numbers despite introductions of new sublineages. Our healthcare system remains resilient. Bivalent vaccines are coming in. Despite the lifting of the mask mandate, Filipinos continue to wear masks to protect one another, not just from COVID-19 but from other respiratory illnesses,” Dr. Salvana added.
Nationwide data of cases from the Department of Health (DOH) as of March 12, 2023 shows the active cases numbering at 9,117. The total number of cases with known regions is 4,077,904 while 4,002,577 recovered and the death toll is at 66,210.
In his speech during the 2023 Annual Scientific Conference and 90th NRCP General Membership Assembly on March 10, 2023, President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. said, “It was science that brought to us the cures that we were looking for. It was science that developed the vaccine. It was science made us understand, what we were facing, the unseen enemy of COVID. It was science who provided the answers.”
As of March 9, 2023, DOH data shows the total doses of COVID-19 vaccine administered is 181,137,103. The total number of first doses administered is 76,593,692. The total number of people who received the complete dose is 79,812,930 while 24,730,481 received their booster dose.
Dr. Salvana, continuing his recollection, confirms the initial lockdown saved 350,000 Filipino lives (by the latest estimate).
“Even with limited resources, our death rate per million is among the lowest in the world. We never shut out our returning kababayans. And we defeated Omicron and its sublineages with vaccination and continued masking.” Dr. Salvana concluded. (ARB, PIA-CPSD)
