DOH Denies Ordering Hospitals to Conceal Number of COVID-19 Deaths

Malacañang and the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases denied reports that hospitals were ordered to conceal the number of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) deaths.

Health Secretary Francisco Duque III issued a denial on Saturday, stating that the Department of Health did not issue such an order.

Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles reiterated during a virtual press briefing on Sunday that there was no directive from the DOH to conceal COVID-19 fatalities and emphasized that it is illegal to do so.