Spox Roque blames new COVID variants for PH surge

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque stated that the recent increase in COVID-19 cases in the Philippines is due to new, more contagious variants of the virus and not a failure of the government's response.

Roque commented on the rise in cases, which has seen over 4,000 new infections daily for the past week, amidst criticism on social media directed at the government's handling of the pandemic.

He highlighted that the number of cases had been successfully managed and reduced until March, when a surge occurred.

The variants of concern first detected in the United Kingdom, South Africa, and Brazil are currently present in the country and contributing to the surge.

Roque dismissed claims that the national government's inefficiency is to blame for the spike, stressing that the country has a low 2.06 percent case fatality rate.

He further stated that the reopening of the economy in October 2020 did not cause the surge, citing declining cases after that decision and after Christmas Day.

Roque emphasized that the mutation of viruses is a natural occurrence and that the confirmation of new variants in the Philippines is one of the reasons for the surge.