“Undocumented cases” contribute to rising COVID-19 fatality rate, says DOH

By Thimoty Romero June 2, 2020 DOH Undersecretary Dr. Maria Rosario Singh-Vergeire (Photo from PIA) MANILA, Philippines - Department of...

By Thimoty Romero
June 2, 2020

DOH Undersecretary Dr. Maria Rosario Singh-Vergeire (Photo from PIA)

MANILA, Philippines - Department of Health (DOH) Undersecretary Dr. Maria Rosario Singh-Vergeire mentioned that 109 cases out of the newly-recorded 539 cases were the only “fresh cases” ever since the department increased its testing capacities. Vergeire clarified that this does not mean that the Coronavirus Disease 19 (COVID-19) pandemic is worsening in the Philippines.

“We need to keep in mind na may difference kung kailan namatay at nagka-onset ng symptoms… May delays tayo on the testing and reporting so we need to emphasize that we have different cases as per reporting. Nangyayari na nava-validate yung data at may delay,” said public health epidemiologist Dr. Troy Gepte.



[We need to keep in mind that there is a difference between knowing when a patient has died and known the onset symptoms of a patient. We have delays in testing and reporting so we need to emphasize that we have different cases as per reporting. It just so happens that data validation would face delays in reporting.]

Gepte added that the delay in the reporting of cases “needs to be taken into consideration when reading the numbers because they do not translate to an increase in local transmission at that very moment.”



“Simula po ngayon ay hahatiin na po namin ang mga numero upang ipakita kung ilan ang “FRESH” o newly validated cases kada araw, at ihihiwalay din po namin kung ilan ang mga “LATE” o nagmula lamang sa delayed reporting,” added Vergeire.

[Starting today, we will categorize the newly validated cases as “FRESH” while excluding the “LATE” cases brought about by delayed reporting.]

Usec. Vergeire views the reduced number of fresh cases as a sign that the COVID-19 mortality rate is decreasing.

“Magandang balita po ang patuloy na pagbababa ng deaths. Ayon sa mga pag-aaral, pag ang bilang ng namatay ay tuloy tuloy na bumababa, ito ay magandang senyales na ang epidemic ay nag-peak na,” said Singh-Vergeire.

[The decrease in the COVID-19 deaths is good news. Based on research, when the death toll decreases, it is a good sign that the epidemic has reached its peak.]

World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Director for Europe Dr. Hans Henri Kluge stated that if even one citizen lacks healthcare services, the population as a whole will be placed at risk.

“No one is safe until everyone is safe… We cannot afford to leave anyone behind,” says Dr. Kluge.