FROM being ranked last in a list of 121 countries, the Philippines is now at 33rd spot in terms of its measured capability to recover from the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic.
Based on the latest Nikkei COVID-19 Recovery Index results released by the Department of Health (DOH), the Philippines has climbed to the 33rd spot after placing last one year ago in the international metric system.
“The DOH has always been aware that the COVID-19 pandemic response is more marathon than sprint. We are carefully pacing ourselves using the whole-of-government and whole-of-nation approach,” said Health Secretary Francisco Duque III in a statement.
“From being the last in a list of 121 countries first measured for their ability to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic one year ago, the Philippines climbed to the 33rd spot,” he added.
The health chief notes how the index even ranked the country ahead of over 80 other countries, including Switzerland (38), Israel (44), Japan (53), U.K. (58), Canada (60), Australia (71), Hong Kong, China (71), New Zealand (75), Singapore (79), and the U.S. (89).
Duque said the improved ranking may be attributed to the consistent decline in new infections in the Philippines, with low to no confirmed deaths in recent weeks.
He said such numbers were recorded despite the opening of the country’s borders to international tourists for four months now, with tens of thousands of tourists arriving daily.
Duque said the improved ranking could be credited to the people diligently following minimum public health standards, such as wearing the best-fitting mask, isolating when sick, doubling up protection with vaccines and boosters, and ensuring good airflow.
According to the DOH, the Nikkei COVID-19 Recovery Index, which it said was not commissioned by any government, is an international metric that scores 121 countries according to their ability to reach a recovered state.
It defines the “recovered” state as one with low transmission of the virus, low death rates, high vaccine coverage, and few movement restrictions.
Nikkei Asia is published by Nikkei Inc., which was established in 1876, currently has 36 global bases worldwide, around 1,500 journalists, and holds headquarters in Tokyo, Japan.
