Coronavirus a ‘competence test’ for the Philippine government, says Duterte critic Maria Ressa

“Instead of dividing, unite because a whole-of-society approach will be needed to deal with the virus,” Ressa said. “This requires real leadership, not demonization, not consolidation of political power. This leadership is meant to unite everyone in order that we are able to actually move in the identical direction.

Most cases of coronavirus infection within the Philippines Southeast Asiaand things are getting closer on Tuesday it was 140,000 and the death toll had reached 2,312.

Ressa said if the Duterte administration doesn’t address the virus with the “3T” formula of testing, tracing and treatment, the country won’t find a way to contain the virus or save lives.

“You know our healthcare system is breaking down. You have to do more,” Ressa said.

Maria Ressa: “Every generation has the democracy it deserves”

Recently, dozens of medical societies have urged the government to impose stricter lockdowns and called for a “pause” to allow frontline workers to recalibrate their anti-coronavirus strategies.

They said doctors, nurses and other health care workers were feeling burnt out, telling the government that “the country’s health care system has been overwhelmed.”

“We are currently in our 20th week of isolation,” Ressa said. “It is the longest in the world and probably one of the most military and security-focused activities anywhere in the world. They said we had essentially squandered any potential gains from the lockdown.”

Metropolitan Manila and nearby provinces are currently of their seventh day of the so-called modified enhanced community quarantine after Duterte ordered the areas to return to stricter quarantine restrictions for 2 weeks starting Aug. 4 because the variety of coronavirus cases in across the country exceeded 100,000.

Ressa, known for her critical coverage of the Duterte administration, sharply criticized the federal government for its actions, including that it “didn’t even have the numbers to make evidence-based decisions.”

“The problem with the virus is that you can’t demonize it. The government must actually act. So this is a test of competence for the Duterte administration,” she said.

Amid stringent lockdowns, the Philippine economy shrank by a record 16.5% within the second quarter of this 12 months.

The decline is the biggest since comparable data became available in 1981 and follows a 0.7% year-over-year decline in the primary quarter of the 12 months, plunging the country right into a technical recession, which is defined as two consecutive quarters of negative growth.

“The Duterte administration sees the crisis as an either-or solution to public health or should the country address the economy,” Ressa said.