MANILA-- The Philippines is on the "right track" in its fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, Malacañang said Monday even after the government reverted Metro Manila and nearby urban hubs to a stricter modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) as COVID-19 cases in the country breached the 100,000-mark.
The government is responding correctly to the pandemic, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said as he noted the low percentage of deaths among COVID-19 patients in comparison to the recoveries.
"Habang mababa po ang mga namamatay tama po ang ginagawa natin. Tingin ko po, papunta tayo sa tamang direksyon na tayo ay nag MECQ," Roque said in a Palace press brieifing.
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(As long as there are a few people dying, we are doing the right thing. I think we are going on the right track with the MECQ.)
The Philippines has so far confirmed 2,059 COVID-19 deaths and 65,557 out of 103,185 cases.
Roque's remarks come after President Rodrigo Duterte on Sunday night heeded the plea of healthcare workers to revert Metro Manila to a stricter community quarantine to give exhausted frontline medical personnel a breather.
The MECQ, which will run from Aug. 4 to 18, also covers nearby provinces Laguna, Cavite, Rizal, and Bulacan