THE government welcomed the latest results of the Nikkei Asia COVID-19 Recovery Index that showed the Philippines achieving significant improvement with regard to its COVID-19 response efforts.
Latest results of the index revealed that the Philippines is now ranked 33rd out of 121 countries in terms of infection management, vaccine rollout and social mobility. This is a complete turnaround from the country’s ranking in September 2021 where it was at the bottom of the list.
According to the Nikkei Recovery Index, the Philippines has moved up 40 spots in its ranking due to a consistent decrease in the country’s daily cases to below 200 with low to no fatalities reported in recent weeks. The report also recognized the country’s easing of restrictions to fully vaccinated international tourists since February, and the removal last week of the negative RT-PCR result requirement for foreigners with booster shots. The easing of restrictions led to the high record number of tourist arrivals over the past few months.
With this latest development, the Philippines overtook several developed countries including Italy (34), Switzerland (38), Israel (44), Japan (53), United Kingdom (58), Canada (60), Australia (71), New Zealand (75), Singapore (79), US (89), China (93) and Russia (111).
National Task Force Against COVID-19 chief implementer and vaccine czar Sec. Carlito Galvez, Jr. welcomed the significant improvement of the Philippines’ ranking in the Nikkei Asia’s Recovery Index report for May 2022. “This is a clear indication that the Philippines has found its footing and is now on the path towards recovering from the pandemic. In fact, the Philippines is recognized as one of the two countries in Asia, aside from Vietnam, which registered the best performance for the month of May,” Galvez said in a statement.
The NTF also attributes this development to the whole-of-society response and recognizes the hard work and dedication of the nation’s medical frontliners and volunteers who tirelessly ensured that Filipinos have greater access to testing, treatment and vaccination against COVID-19. “The Philippines’ improved ranking in the Nikkei Recovery Index is also a testament of the Filipino people’s strict compliance to minimum public health standards. With this, we reiterate the government’s position that wearing of face masks will continue to be enforced at least until the end of the term of President Duterte.”
“I would also like to encourage all unvaccinated Filipinos to have yourselves fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and avail of the booster shots to achieve full protection against the virus. The NTF is confident that the incoming administration will build upon the gains we have achieved and lead the country towards full economic recovery,” Galvez concluded.