The Department of Health reiterated yesterday that the coronavirus disease outbreak in the country affects all people regardless of social class.
“Wala pong ebidensya na meron magiging immunity ang specific sector of society. Sa katunayan, nung isang araw lang, nagpalabas ang World Health Organization na wala tayong immunity passports, wala tayong immunity certificates kasi wala naman ebidensya pa na nakakapagsabi ngayon na may mga sectors na may immunity,” Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said.
The Health official said that anyone can be a victim of the novel coronavirus.
“Even those who has had the virus already, hindi pa din sigurado kung pwede sila magkaroon o hindi. Kaya wala tayo dapat iniisip na meron immunity dito. Walang sini-sino ang virus, kahit sino pwedeng magkaroon,” she said.
Vergeire made the remarks in response to the recent pronouncement of Presidential Adviser on Entrepreneurship Joey Concepcion that the poor may have “better immunity” against the dreaded disease as compared to those “sheltered in a well-protected environment.”
The DoH spokesperson said that it is the middle and upper class that are initially affected by the virus due to their lifestyle.
“Ang mga tinamaan nung una ung medyo may mga kaya –middle class and upper class – kasi sila ‘yung mga nagta-travel, sila ung may pera to travel abroad, to travel elsewhere here in the Philippines. Also, sila din ang nag attend ng nga convention, conferences,” said Vergeire.
“Pero hindi natin pwedeng sabihin at hindi tayo dapat makampante na hindi ito nangyayari sa ating mga lower income class,” she added.
Vergeire also added that there is no scientific basis that the weather may affect the transmission of COVID-19.
“Wala pa ngayon ebidensya na ang COVID-19 virus is affected by weather, be it mainit o malamig. It should not be a basis for the business sector na – kasi exposed sa Sun, kaya pwede nang magtrabaho,” she said. (Analou de Vera)