- Atom Araullo exchanged tweets with Dr. Edsel Salvana.
Kapuso journalist Atom Araullo traded barbs with epidemiology expert and IATF (Inter-Agency Task Force) consultant Dr. Edsel Salvana.
On Twitter, Araullo questioned Salvana’s method of reporting COVID-19 test cases in the country.
Then sir, I’m sorry to say but your tweets are misleading at best, and malicious at worst. I was NOT referring to total number of tests but individuals tested! This is what the DOH tracks anyway. So hindi pala inaccurate yung data. https://t.co/J1xQZDpzxx pic.twitter.com/eWEPeCRJ4t
— Atom Araullo (@atomaraullo) March 27, 2020
The Twitter exchange started when Atom compared the tests done by other neighboring countries which is far more than what is being done in the Philippines.
According to Atom as based on the DOH numbers, we are only testing 200 patients a day for a current total of 2,147 compared to Vietnam’s 30,548, Thailand 10m343, Malaysia 21,855, Singapore 39,000 considering these are countries have smaller populations than the Philippines.
Based on DOH data, we are testing around 200 patients a day for COVID19, a total of 2147 as of March 26. Meanwhile, our neighbors have tested in greater numbers: Vietnam 30548, Thailand 10343, Malaysia 21855, Singapore 39000. These are countries with smaller populations than us.
— Atom Araullo (@atomaraullo) March 27, 2020
That tweet was debunked by Dr. Salvana saying Atom’s number is inaccurate.
According to him, the total test actually done by the DOH is 11,466 which translates to 1,000 tests per day.
“Atom, the 2147 tests is inaccurate. It’s not as simple as adding the COVID tracker numbers. Positive patients get many repeat tests until they turn negative. The actual tests performed is 11,466. Capacity now at more than 1000 test/day. DOH will update.”
Atom, the 2147 tests is inaccurate. Its not as simple as adding the COVID tracker numbers. Positive patients get many repeat tests until they turn negative. The actual tests performed is 11,466. Capacity now at more than 1000 test/day. DOH will update. https://t.co/avBoas8HrG
— Dr. Edsel Salvana (@EdselSalvana) March 27, 2020
With conflicting numbers, Atom, in a Twitter thread questioned the integrity and reliability of the numbers being released by the DOH.
As of 5pm today, DOH confirms info on their tracking website that 2147 individuals have been tested for #COVID19, says figure is expected to rise. Dr. @EdselSalvana meanwhile says the TOTAL number of tests done is 11466 (not individuals).
1/4
— Atom Araullo (@atomaraullo) March 27, 2020
What accounts for the discrepancy is unclear. Hindi lang ba updated ang numero ng DOH? (Bakit?) Is each individual tested an average of 5 times?
2/4
— Atom Araullo (@atomaraullo) March 27, 2020
I have to point out that figures released by other countries usually reflect total number of tested individuals (not total number of tests) because it provides a better picture of what’s going on.
3/4
— Atom Araullo (@atomaraullo) March 27, 2020
And because these are delicate times, I have to provide a disclaimer that we are NOT criticizing our front liners in charge of this important work. In fact we salute you. We are just presenting the facts as they are presented to us.
4/4
— Atom Araullo (@atomaraullo) March 27, 2020
But your comparison between Philippines and the other countries was the number of TESTS done by country versus our number of individuals TESTED. It is inaccurate. https://t.co/8EpioYKuxU
— Dr. Edsel Salvana (@EdselSalvana) March 27, 2020
Atom countered by saying he was referring to the number of tested individuals not the number of tests done as being pushed by Salvana.
No, individuals tested. See link for vietnam and screengrab for Malaysia. H/T @dingclancyhttps://t.co/xebLd7cT1t pic.twitter.com/rxvTTr2wSQ
— Atom Araullo (@atomaraullo) March 27, 2020
He even added some other reports saying that neighboring countries are measuring the number of individuals tested not the number of tests done.
Sir that comes from the official tracker of Vietnam itself. And looking at the same data, it says “for some countries the number of tests correspond to the number of individuals who have been tested, rather than the number of samples.” See highlighted section. pic.twitter.com/N7S8pGwgQF
— Atom Araullo (@atomaraullo) March 27, 2020
Hindi rin sir. Based on news reports, only 1% of tests in Singapore come back positive. Siyempre individuals po yun, it doesn’t make sense otherwise. That was on March 18, when they had 313 confirmed cases. That means they had tested approximately 31300 individuals back then.
— Atom Araullo (@atomaraullo) March 27, 2020
39000 individual tests now is more consistent with that trend. Othewise total tests would be way higher than that, because as you say, they perform the test several times on one person.
— Atom Araullo (@atomaraullo) March 27, 2020
Anyway, bottom line is we can't compare apples to oranges. 39k for Singapore is tests, 30k for Vietnam is individuals or tests (no idea, maybe both). 2k for Philippines is individuals, 11k for tests. Its easy to confuse as you said, but accurate data comparison is important.
— Dr. Edsel Salvana (@EdselSalvana) March 27, 2020
In the end, Atom firmly stood by his comparison of the number of tests we do in the country with our neighbors which clearly showed we are under testing and that mass testing should be started.
Honestly, I don’t see the utility of reporting total number of tests anyway, aside from research purposes and to show testing capacity. The data would skewed because the number of times an individual is tested varies a lot.
— Atom Araullo (@atomaraullo) March 27, 2020
