Amid the criticisms after the National Capital Region (NCR) was placed [once] again under enhanced community quarantine (ECQ), Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque blamed the virus for mutating.
In an interview with ANC, Roque denied that the Philippines went back to square one because of the government. It was because of the virus evolving into a much bigger threat.
“It’s because the virus mutated. There’s now the UK, South African, Brazilian, and even the Philippine variant,” said Roque.
“Unfortunately, all these variants made the disease more infectious and more transmissible.”
Roque then made a statement that no one can do something about the change in the virus because it is its nature.
“No one could have done anything about it because it’s in the nature of viruses to mutate,” he stressed.
According to World Health Organization (WHO), mutations in the virus happen due to transmissions. To stop the virus from mutating, it should be stopped at its source. To prevent the virus from spreading, frequent hand washing, wearing a mask, physical distancing, good ventilation, and avoiding crowded places or closed settings are still effective against new variants of Covid-19.
However, WHO stressed that vaccination is crucial in protecting people from the coronavirus. Also, the organization pointed out that priority groups should be given utmost priority in the vaccination drive of a country. This is to reduce the risk of transmission and avoid any further mutation of the virus.
That is why Netizens disagree with Roque.
A Netizen stressed that although there is truth in the spokesperson’s explanation, he forgot to mention that mutations do not occur if it is not transmitted. The Netizen further proved his point that the country would not experience over a year of lockdown if the government contained the transmission, first and foremost.
Viruses mutate, that's true. But mutations die out if they don't get transmitted.
I hate this "no one could have done anything" narrative because it's very much untrue: We could have done so many things. We wasted ONE YEAR which we could have used to contain transmission. https://t.co/kkHcqh2fO5
— Jade (@maasgad) March 29, 2021
Another Netizen likewise agreed with Roque.
However, it was partly the virus’s fault that it mutated. The Netizen compared the Philippines to countries like Taiwan, Australia, Vietnam, New Zealand, Guam, and even the virus’s origin– Wuhan, China. These countries proved to have an effective government in addressing the pandemic.
As a result, these nations already have zero cases.
It’s the virus? Partly yes, pero mahiya ka naman sa Taiwan, Australia, Vietnam, New Zealand and even the small island of Guam. Zero cases na sila bes. Kahit nga sa Wuhan, back to normal na. That’s because their government is effective and does not politicize this effin pandemic. https://t.co/NfDz0aeAF6
— AEs of Manila (@AdvertisingAEs) March 29, 2021
A Netizen also irked at how the government still implements the same policies used against the original variant. Since the administration knew that the virus can mutate, the Netizen proved a point by saying that the policies are now ineffective against new variants of COVID-19.
https://twitter.com/thesiopita/status/1376482856482955264
A Netizen questioned how the virus mutated. If the government responded against the threat and did not downplay the pandemic’s results–then things may be different.
Pero bakit nagka variant? Don't you think that would've changed had the response and action been sooner? https://t.co/lKa8TSjOCd
— Takumii (@Akagi_Suns) March 29, 2021
Virus mutation could have been prevented, according to another Netizen;–only if the government succeeded in containing it.
https://twitter.com/ungodlymiguel/status/1376450448199086087
The government that downplayed the virus was the reason why it mutated. If the Duterte administration has focused on the pandemic, the country would have been in a better situation this 2021.
Excuse me, Mr “Human Rights” Laywer, if you people did not downplay the virus when it was starting to spread over a year ago, we would be in a (relatively) better situation today. Bad governance leads to HR violations (right to health, included). You’d “know” this, right? Or not? https://t.co/WKV3M9ViMd
— Ryan Quan (@ryanjdq) March 29, 2021
A Netizen also blamed the government because of the year-long lockdown. The government is accountable for the situation, according to him. The current administration is at fault because thousands of lives were gone, with millions unemployed, because of the pandemic.
PSA: WE ARE NOT BACK TO SQUARE ONE. IT'S WORSE NOW. THOUSANDS OF LIVES GONE, MILLIONS OF JOBS LOST. AND IT'S ALL BECAUSE OF THE GOVERNMENT. https://t.co/ig9rsCNrQP
— the problem (@janraphaelp) March 29, 2021
Twitter personality and heavy critic of the Duterte administration Francis Baraan IV also took a swipe at the recent statement of Roque. Baraan said that COVID-19 mutated and yet the country’s pandemic response is still the same. With the slow action from the government, Baraan called it “incompetent.”
Nag-mutate na't lahat ang virus. Pero ang medical response pa rin ng inutil nating gobyerno, 'Ganun talaga.'
NYETA TALAGA.
— Francis Baraan IV (@MrFrankBaraan) March 29, 2021
As of Monday, the Philippines has recorded 10,016 new cases, the country’s first 10k breach in terms of positive cases.
