Sa virtual presser ng Department of Health (DOH), inihayag ni Dr. John Wong, Epidemiologist at miyembro ng Inter-Agency Task Force subTWG on data analytics experts group, na ang nakikitang flattening ng curve ay hindi nangangahulugan na tapos na ang laban sa COVID-19.
Ang pag-flatten ng curve ay sinyales aniya na naco-control na ang outbreak dahil unti-unti nang nababawasan ang kaso at bilang ng nasasawi sa bansa.
Sa pamamagitan nito, nabibigyan din aniya ng pagkakataon ang gobyerno para lalo pang makapaghanda sakaling dumating sa punto sa kakailanganin ng mas mataas na kapasidad.
“When we say that we’re flattening the curve, it means that everyday we’re getting fewer and fewer cases. It also means that the number of deaths we have every day is getting fewer and fewer. We still cannot say that we have won the battle against COVID-19 until we have a vaccine. But at least for now temporarily, we’ve been able to control the outbreak,” pahayag ni Wong.
Mahihinto lamang aniya ang pandemic kung magkakaroon na ng bakuna.
Kapag inalis na ang enhanced community quarantine, sinabi ni Wong na posibleng magkaroon ng third wave ng COVID-19 sa bansa.
Ngunit para maiwasan ito, kailangan aniyang panatilihin ang pagsunod sa ilang panuntunan tulad ng physical distancing.
“Sa pandemic, it will only stop if we have a vaccine. So this is the second wave kasi the first wave was in January. After this flattening of the curve and then when we relax ECQ, we will see another surge of cases, maybe a third wave noh. Pero to prevent that third wave, we have to observe all the mitigation measures like physical distancing, hygiene and frequent cleaning,” ani Wong.
Muli ring iginiit ng health expert na ipagpatuloy ang ginagawang pagprotekta sa bawat isa kahit na dumating sa panahong isasailalim na sa general community quarantine ang Metro Manila at iba pang lugar sa Pilipinas.
“So right now, we’re protecting each other by self quarantining at home. But once ECQ is relaxed and we are able to go out, we have to remember that we have to protect ourselves, protect our family and protect each other by observing one-meter distance, washing our hands frequently, observing cough etiquette, and doing frequent cleaning whether in school or at work ang even at home especially if we have family members who are seniors or have conditions,” ani Wong.