Saving lives by being truthful

It is quite saddening, if not disheartening that a cry for help became a fodder of unintended misinformation. No matter how well the intention is or was – even with such disclaimer – it instead stirred unwarranted public panic. The rumor went viral in social media sadly while many of us Filipino Catholics were observing Black Saturday.

The rumor cited an un-named “frontliner” in one government hospital in Metro Manila who claimed at least ten patients die per day at their institution due to the 2019 coronavirus disease, or COVID-19. This is addition to the many persons under investigation (PUIs) and around 15 to 20 COVID positive patients reportedly being treated at the hospital wards. The worse part that spiced up the rumor was the claim of “gag” order to all government hospitals to purportedly keep under wraps all COVID-19 related deaths.

The reported many cadavers left at the hallways of this unnamed government hospital, it turned out, was indeed true. But the cadavers were not all deaths caused by COVID-19. The unattended cadavers were simply because the hospital has run short of body bags. It gained credence after there was an appeal for donation of body bags posted in a screenshot of Facebook post.

Feeling alluded about these rumors, the administration of the East Avenue Medical Center (EAMC) in Quezon City issued an official statement to deny any “gag order” but admitted their problem on the shortage of refrigerator facility for cadavers.

Likewise, the Department of Health (DOH) immediately released an “announcement” to assuage the public they have been coordinating with the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) and local government units “to ensure the guidelines on the management of dead are properly followed.” In fact, the DOH cited, the local government officials of Quezon City and Pasig City have designated their respective crematoriums to handle COVID-related deaths.

In the same “announcement,” the DOH reminded all hospitals, health facilities and medical centers that they are mandated to report to the DOH all consultations/admissions of COVID positive cases. This is in line with the continuing census/monitoring being done by the DOH on COVID cases all over the country.

Certainly, DOH Secretary Dr. Francisco Duque III would not countenance any under-reporting of deaths and cases of COVID-19 infection because this would not help the government properly address this global pandemic that paralyzed us in the Luzon-wide lockdowns extended for another two weeks. The DOH Secretary chairs the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Disease (IATF-EID) as the policy-making body in charge of recommended measures to contain the spread of COVID-19.

What would be the benefit or gain for the DOH to fudge the number of reported number of COVID-19 cases?

This reminded me of a quite similar question raised by an irate President Rodrigo Duterte on what would he gain if he tries to give the public rose-colored picture of the COVID-19 situation in our country. The visibly piqued Chief Executive fumed to what he ranted as distorted interpretation by opposition lawyer Chel Diokno on “shoot them dead” standing directives he gave to policemen during situation they need to use lethal force if the lives of law enforcers should be in danger while manning checkpoints during the COVID-19 lockdown.

In an unscheduled late night public address last April 3, the former Davao City Mayor pointed out he is not out to say things just to please his audience. “Bakit ako magsinungaling? Kung ganun ang sitwasyon, sabihin ko sa inyo, ‘yan. Eh anong magawa ko?... “Wala akong obligasyon na magsinungaling sa inyo, wala. Bakit ko papahirapan ang sarili ko? Magtanong ako sa inyo. Just to lie to you to make you happy?” the President rhetorically asked.

Without batting an eyelash, President Duterte averred: “We are not obliged. I do not have the duty to lie to you.”

Known for his frank and brutal language, President Duterte talked again with his usual candor on the COVID situation in the country as of last Monday. In fact, he virtually confirmed there might have been indeed attempts to give wrong information about COVID cases but that it is certainly not the national government or the DOH for that matter doing it. The President pointed to un-identified local government units down to barangay officials who try to hide COVID-19 cases in their respective areas. And by some people whose family members are positive for COVID-19 infection or died because of it but refused to cooperate on reporting on it to the authorities, the President rued.

In his usual late night public address, the President deplored these as ‘the problems” in his third report to Congress on the implementation of the “Bayanihan Heal as One” Act that granted him standby powers to address the public health emergency on the COVID-19 pandemic.

This should not happen, he ranted, because it would endanger the rest of the Filipino nation if they do not follow the protocols to cremate those who died of COVID. “At kung malaman ko na namatay sa corona, kunin ko ‘yung patay at sa gusto ninyo at hindi, magagalit kayo sa akin, wala na rin akong magawa, trabaho ko ‘yan, dalhin ko ‘yan doon sa crematory sunugin ko. ‘Yan ang trabaho ko,” the President warned.

The same spirit of transparency is called upon all of us Filipinos by the IATF that now requires the public disclosure of identities and diagnoses of COVID patients. Cabinet Secretary and IATF spokesperson Karlo Nograles explained the public disclosure of personal information relating to positive COVID-19 cases merely seeks to enhance the contact-tracing efforts of the government and that these would be done in accordance with the Data Privacy Act.

If celebrities here and abroad from Hollywood to NBA stars and some of our Senators here were only too willing to announce they are COVID-19 positive, why should there be a problem for common people like us to admit we’re sick of COVID? Being truthful is the first step to saving lives.