by Analou de Vera, Manila Bulletin
The Philippines was ranked 33rd in the Covid-19 Recovery ranking by Tokyo-based news magazine Nikkei Asia.
Based on its June 3 report, the country made a big jump in this latest ranking as Nikkei Asia said that the Philippines “had occupied last place in the index during 2021” or placed 121st on its recovery index in October last year. Nikkei Asia ranks 121 countries based on its infection management, vaccine rollouts, and social mobility.
“The higher the ranking, the closer a place is to recovery, characterized by lower infection and death rates, better inoculation coverage, as well as fewer movement restrictions,” said Nikkei Asia.
“Vietnam and the Philippines logged their best performances in Nikkei’s Covid-19 Recovery Index for May, as both countries managed to ease restrictions while keeping infections low,” it also stated.
Nikkei Asia noted the consistent decline in new cases in the Philippines, with low to no confirmed deaths in recent weeks.
It also cited the move of the Philippine government to reopen the country’s borders to fully vaccinated international tourists.
“Domestically, business has largely resumed and the government is encouraging all schools to hold face-to-face classes again this month,” said Nikkei Asia.
Nikkei Asia sourced its figures from Our World in Data, Google Covid-19 Community Mobility Reports, Oxford Covid-19 Government Response Tracker, Cirium, and Nikkei Asia Research.
The Department of Health (DOH) welcomed the result of this latest ranking.
DOH Secretary Francisco Duque III said that “this remarkable recovery reported by independent external observers is being balanced by safety protocols managed by the Department of Health and our partners.”
“The DOH has always been aware that the Covid-19 pandemic response is more marathon than sprint. We are carefully pacing ourselves using the whole-of-government and whole-of-nation approach, led by President Rodrigo Roa Duterte,” said Duque.
Duque also cited the Filipinos’ “diligent” compliance with the minimum public health standards such as wearing of face masks, isolation, vaccination, and ensuring proper ventilation.
He also cited the capabilities of both the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) and Philippine Genome Center (PGC) in detecting new variants and subvariants of Covid-19 virus.
“As the current administration ends, we are confident that the next administration and its incoming Secretary of Health will continue or even improve our march to recovery in the new normal,” he added.
