MANILA, Philippines – President Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday said he is sure that technologically-advanced nations like Russia, U.S., and Japan are already working on a vaccine to combat the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
“With the great strides now of science, in a matter of days, I’m sure that Russia where the brightest of the brightest, America, Japan, they are working overtime to come up with the vaccine,” Duterte said in a speech at the 2020 General Assembly of the League of Municipalities of the Philippines (LMP).
“It takes time pero kaya na ng mundo, kaya na ng mga gobyerno, especially those who are rich in technology,” he added.
COVID-19 cases globally have reached over 110,000 with 4,000 fatalities, mostly in China.
In the Philippines, the Department of Health (DOH) has confirmed 33 COVID-19 cases so far.
The first local transmission recently recorded in the country prompted the DOH to raise Code Red, alerting the national and local governments, and health care providers to prepare for the possible increase in suspected and confirmed COVID-19 cases.
Duterte also declared a public health emergency over the threat of the virus.