PRC is right to call out DoH as causing spread of Covid-19

IN a bold statement last week, the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) blamed the spread of the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) on the slow action of the Department of Health (DoH) to validate test results and inform patients who have tested positive. Having an institution or authority that will call out the DoH for its poor data handling and will actually be listened to by the Health department is perhaps one of the most encouraging developments yet in the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic.

In its statement, the PRC said that according to its data, at least one-third, or more than 5,000 of over 15,700 confirmed cases since July 30, have not yet been informed of their positive status, which means these patients are very likely unwittingly spreading the coronavirus infection throughout their communities.