COVID-19 cases reach a million plus; post-COVID-19 care needed
MANILA – The total number of COVID-19 cases today soared to 1,006,428 as 8,929 new cases were added to the growing figures.
The total active cases as of 4:00 P.M. today reached 74,623 or 7.4% of the total figures while 914,952 have recovered with the addition of 11,333.
The Department of Health today said 70 COVID-19 patients died for a total of 16,852 or 1.67%.
During the midday Malacañang Press Briefing hosted by Spokesperson Harry Roque, he said he will take up the issue of aftercare program for COVID-19 survivors.
“What I know is COVID-19 survivors have some kind of depression,” he said. He added he now regularly visits his cardiologist because he learned of cases where survivors who underwent treatment by Remdesivir have some health problems.
Meanwhile, Dr. John Wong of Epimetrics said in addition to Post-COVID-19 care, the government also needs to address the existence of patients who have recovered but still have the symptoms for as long as six months.
“They are considered the ‘long-haulers,’ who comprise 20 to 30% of the total recovered patients. We don’t know what’s causing it and there is no effective treatment yet,” he said.
He added it is of prime importance to look into the recovered patients because the country has nearly a million of them. He explained there are studies being made regarding the long-haulers abroad but he still has to hear of parallel studies in the Philippines. (Melo M. Acuña)
Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque and Epimetrics' Dr. John Wong. (Screen grab from Presidential Briefing, April 26,2021/Melo M. Acuna)