THE Department of Health on Thursday busted the assumption of Presidential Adviser on Entrepreneurship Joey Concepcion that the poor have “better immunity” and are “somehow resilient” to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said there is no scientific evidence that can support Concepcion’s statement. She said the virus does not choose whom to hit.
“There is no evidence saying a specific sector can be immune from the virus. Even the World Health Organization already stated that there is no immunity certificate possessed by any sector,” said Vergeire.
“We should not be thinking that anyone has immunity from COVID-19. The virus does not select its victim. Anyone can be vulnerable,” she added.
Proof of this, she said, is that even those who have survived COVID-19 “remain uncertain if they can still get the virus or not.”
She said the only possible reason that a small portion of the COVID-19 patients are from the lower-income class, compared to the higher class, is the lattter’s lifestyle which includes going on trips abroad.
“The first victims came mostly from the middle class, upper class because they are the ones with the capability to travel abroad or elsewhere in the Philippines, to attend conventions and conferences, among others,” said Vergeire.
COVID-19 originated in China
Concepcion, in an online forum of the Shareholders’ Association of the Philippines on Wednesday, Concepcion said he has proposed that government resume work on road projects despite then community quarantine being imposed to prevent the further spread of COVID-19.
He said based on talks he had with religious leaders and organizations giving aid to vulnerable communities, the poor are “somehow resilient” to the virus.
“Maybe because they are so used to so much exposure that they have a better immunity than us who are sheltered in well-protected environments,” he said.
The labor group Partido Manggagawa slammed Concepcion.
“The theory of Mr. Joey Concepcion is at best unfounded and, worse, insulting,” said PM chairman Rene Magtubo.
He said Concepcion disregards the risks poor workers may face when they go back to work.
He also said there is no medical basis for Concepcion’s conclusion.
