Maria Rosario Vergeire (Source: RTVM)
Some 6,800 coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) test results are still awaiting validation by the Department of Health (DOH), which has vowed to speed up the testing process.
Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire gave the figure after criticisms on how the DOH is recording the cases were criticized on social media.
“Sa ngayon we have around 6,800 pa na kailangan pong i-validate natin, na atin pong pagtatrabahuhan sa mga susunod na araw para po magkaroon na po tayo ng at least approximation between the unique individuals tested and those confirmed positive for COVID-19,” she stated in a televised briefing.
She added that not all 6,800 test results will be included to the confirmed cases.
“Kapag bina-validate natin ang mga kaso, ating tinitingnan baka may duplication, baka may mga erroneous inputs, so babawasin pa rin natin iyan,” she said. “Hindi talaga mo masasabi na ‘pag in-add mo iyan ay iyan iyong magiging total mo na 23,000 plus, mababawasan pa iyan because of validation.”
Meanwhile, Vergeire guaranteed that the DOH has been transparent in the reporting of the COVID-19 situation in the country.
“Ang Kagawaran ng Kalusugan ay naging transparent from the very start with our data, nakikita ninyo po lahat po ng aming ginagawa,” she said. “We have an open system, iyong data-drop, kung saan maaaring tingnan ng mga kababayan natin ang aming mga datos.”
Months since the threat of COVID-19 invaded the country, the DOH is still not finished on their play on terminologies and just recently created a new COVID-19 case classification for new cases as either “fresh” or “late” cases.
COVID-19 test results given to patients within the past 3 days will be counted as “fresh” cases, while results given to patients 4 days ago or longer will fall under “late.” (RJ Espartinez)