The 7,103 new cases of COVID-19 surge shocked the Filipinos, as it surpassed last year’s peak of 6,958 cases.
Over twitter, celebrities and personalities have urged the public to stay safe as the coronavirus got even scarier with this huge number of cases in just a day.
Actor and musician Kean Cipriano encouraged Filipinos to stay safe as he, along with his countrymen, is now scared of this pandemic.
https://twitter.com/keancipriano/status/1372854523249618949
Actress Maja Salvador also prayed for Filipinos to be safe. She also advised the public to wear masks as this surge of Covid-19 cases reached over 7,000.
https://twitter.com/dprincessmaja/status/1372832796134182917
Even Kapuso actor Ruru Madrid is sad by the news that there are 7,103 cases recorded just this Friday. The actor also prayed for the safety of everyone.
https://twitter.com/Rurumadrid8/status/1372825591745941505
Senator Risa Hontiveros expressed her concern about the spike in Covid cases since she has a daughter with asthma. The Senator also stressed that the total number of cases recorded this Friday was the worst that the country has ever had.
Bilang nanay na may anak na may asthma, natatakot ako. As we should be at how fast these numbers are rising.
At 7,103 cases, it's the worst we've EVER had.
We need a systematic plan now, bago tayo makarating sa breaking point. (1/2)
— risa hontiveros (@risahontiveros) March 19, 2021
Hontiveros shared in a tweet what the World Health Organization has stated about the Philippines being at the first wave of the pandemic. The government is still in denial of its failures. According to the woman senator, ‘the curve will never be flattened’ if the government will remain in denial about the problem and what needs to be done to solve it.
Ang daming nagtatanong kung pang-ilang wave na ba ito. Ang sagot ng WHO ay: 1ST WAVE PA RIN ITO.
We have NOT flattened the curve yet. And we never will if we remain in denial of the problem and what needs to be done to solve it.
Numbers don't lie: We are failing. (2/2)
— risa hontiveros (@risahontiveros) March 19, 2021
Meanwhile, actor Alex Medina used humor to address the Philippines’ current pandemic situation.
Grabe yung 7k talaga pasabog ng season 2 ng lockdown!
— Alex (@anakngartista) March 19, 2021
The coronavirus being extremely dangerous to the elderly due to having a weaker immune system because of age–the comedienne and actress Marietta Subong or better known as Pokwang advised the public to be extra careful; especially those families with the elderly living with them.
Pokwang also called out those violators who still think of themselves as they party and enjoy life as if everything is normal.
Panginoong mahabagin ano ito???? ingat po mga kababayan ko… lalo na kung may senior kayo kasama sa bahay Dios ko ingat at yung iba dyan na tigas ulo gimik parin ng gimik maawa naman kayo… one year na tayong ganito huuyyyy… pic.twitter.com/83Ym0ap5Et
— marietta subong (@pokwang27) March 19, 2021
Actress Nikki Valdez asked the Lord to protect the country against the continuous rise of Covid cases.
https://twitter.com/nikkivaldez_/status/1372850344577822721
Musician Johnny Danao took the news as a failure of the Duterte administration. Danao reiterated Pres. Duterte’s statement during his recent speech and undermined once again the pandemic. With over a year since the coronavirus inflicted the country, positive cases also grew in numbers–it sunken the country deeper into debts. The musician also pointed out the incompetence of Duterte administration. It only advised Filipinos to wait for the vaccine donated by China and as it is busy doing electoral campaigns.
“Maliit na bagay.” “Nanalo na tayo.”Isang taong walang kwentang pamumuno, baon sa utang, walang mass testing, nag-aantay sa libreng bakuna ng Tsina. Pangangampanya pa ang inuuna. Sige, pagtanggol niyo pa. pic.twitter.com/ZvWqSXIR62
— johnoy danao (@johnoydanao) March 19, 2021
Richard Juan also took a swipe at the government for claiming that the country did an “excellent job” in containing the spread of COVID. However, with 7,103 new cases, it only proved that the Philippines is nowhere near excellent.
7,103 new cases today. HIGHEST ONE DAY TALLY a couple of days after our ONE YEAR anniversary of our lockdown.
We were definitely excellent in handling the pandemic. Definitely.
— 范鴻志 RICHARD JUAN 홍준 (@richardjuan) March 19, 2021
The number of COVID cases in the Philippines will reach 8,000 (in just a day) by the end of March, the Department of Health said.
Pia Magalona criticized the government, especially Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque, who was proud to claim that the country did an “excellent job” against the pandemic. Magalona also called out Health Secretary Francisco Duque III, who appointed contact tracing czar, whom she did not find helpful at all.
https://twitter.com/piamagalona/status/1372822398563590147
ABS-CBN broadcast journalist MJ Felipe also reiterated the statement of the President with him questioning if the Philippines still did an excellent job and if the country can ‘still’ manage to survive in this pandemic
Maliit na bagay pa rin ba? Excellent pa rin ba? Manageable pa rin ba?
— MJ Felipe (@mjfelipe) March 19, 2021
Other celebrities blamed the government for its inadequate response resulting in the ballooning of cases.
Actress Agot Isidro wrote on her Twitter that although she wanted everyone to be safe, she blamed Duterte through a subtle hashtag she used—#DuterteVirus.
Singer Leah Navarro also held Pres. Duterte accountable for the surge of COVID cases. She stressed that the President and his allies are trying to get people killed by doing nothing. The singer also echoed the questions of many: “Where is the money? Where are the vaccines?”
More proof of #DutertePalpak. He is killing our people by doing nothing. His handpicked minions are doing nothing to help. Where is the money?! Where are the vaccines?! pic.twitter.com/26ZQQUfy9J
— Leah Navarro (@leahnavarro) March 19, 2021
Twitter personality Gideon Lasco also blamed Duterte for not prioritizing the pandemic over anything else. Lasco also theorized that the government would again blame the public. However, Lasco is certain the cases recorded this Friday will go to Duterte’s failure as a leader.
We do not have the worst citizens; we have the worst president: one whose priority is to bring down people, not the virus.
Once again, they will try to blame it on the 'pasaway'. But the 7,103 cases today are a reflection – more than anything else – of failure of leadership.
— Gideon Lasco (@gideonlasco) March 19, 2021
As of Friday, the total number of active cases in the country has reached 648,066. Meanwhile, the mortalities related to COVID remained low, with DOH recording only 13 deaths.
