Palace spokesman Harry Roque on Monday expressed hope the UP-OCTA Research Team’s forecast that the country could see a flattening of its Covid-19 curve by end-August or September would come true.
Dr. Guido David of UP-OCTA on Sunday said had the government extended the modified enhanced community quarantine in Metro Manila and nearby provinces for two more weeks, the country would have been able to flatten the curve quicker.
The general community quarantine imposition, however, could still gradually flatten the curve.
“Sa ngayon umaasa tayo na kaya pa rin ‘yan, katapusan ng August pwede ma-flatten ‘yung curve, pero kahit mga September siguro na mangyari ‘yan, okay lang din, maflatten natin ang curve slowly,” he said in an Teleradyo interview.
Almost 5,000 new Covid-19 cases were recorded Monday, bringing the national total to 194,252.
UP-OCTA predicted the country’s Covid-19 tally would reach 250,000 cases by end-August.
In June, Roque drew flak for saying the country “beat” the UP prediction by 2,500 cases and congratulating the public.
But Roque said Monday he would be ready to congratulate the Filipino people anew.
“Tingnan po natin. We will reserve whether or not we will congratulate the Filipino people anew or better luck next time,” he said.
During the same briefing, Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire reminded Filipinos not to be complacent.
“Nothing is certain at this point in time. We will continue to monitor the cases. And we enjoin all of our kababayans ‘no, na ipagpatuloy po natin ang ating mga minimum health standards,” she said. John Ezekiel J. Hirro