Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque on Wednesday, July 1, clarified that his congratulatory remark for “beating” the University of the Philippines (UP) researchers’ prediction that the country will have 40,000 COVID-19 cases by June 30 was directed to the people and not to government efforts.
“Maraming hindi na-gets… I was congratulating the people, not the government’s efforts because, in the end, it’s the people who will determine how fast the disease will spread,” Roque said in an interview with ANC.
During an online briefing yesterday, June 30, Roque announced that the Philippines did not reach 40,000 COVID-19 cases as UP predicted. “Panalo na tayo, we beat the UP prediction po. We beat it so congratulations Philippines. Let’s do it again in July,” he said, pumping his fist in the air.
Social media users, including some celebrities, took a jab at Roque’s statement. Many joked about how the government was treating the fight against COVID-19 as an inter-school competition, while others such as the UP Office of the Student Regent slammed Roque for not prioritizing the lowering of COVID-19 cases.
Roque added during the ANC interview that the public is not helpless against the virus if the people continue practicing standard health protocols such as wearing masks and observing physical distancing.
“The Department of Health has said that wearing masks will reduce the probability of getting COVID by as much as 85 percent. Social distancing will reduce the probability of getting it by 80 percent,” he said. “We are not as powerless as we think against the diseases even if there is no vaccine or cure to the disease as of yet.”
[READ: That 40k COVID-19 cases prediction we just ‘beat’? It might go up to 60k come July 30, says UP]
A new study from UP released on Monday, June 29, estimates that COVID-19 infections may reach 60,000 by the end of July. Roque noted that the people must be encouraged to beat this forecast. “If the forecast is 60 to 70 [thousand] on July 31, we should all strive to reduce it as much as possible,” he said.
Header photo screengrabbed from PTV
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