DOH explains PHL last rank in Nikkei COVID-19 recovery index

The Department of Health (DOH) stated that Nikkei Asia's COVID-19 Recovery Index, which ranked the Philippines last among 121 countries, utilized data collected during the peak of COVID-19 cases in the country driven by the Delta variant.

Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire explained that Nikkei Asia analyzed a seven-day period in September for their comparison of country metrics.

Vergeire pointed out that at the time of the analysis, other countries had already recovered from their respective surges, while the Philippines was experiencing its own peak.

She further elaborated that surges in countries like Indonesia occurred in July, and in other nations as early as June, contrasting with the Philippines' peak in September.

This timing, according to Vergeire, directly contributed to the Philippines' lowest ranking in the Nikkei recovery index.