MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Transportation (DOTr) should enforce stricter social distancing for passengers of mass public transport to curb the spread of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said Friday.
On Thursday night, President Rodrigo Duterte ordered that Metro Manila be placed under a “community quarantine” for one month. The lockdown suspends land, domestic air, and, domestic sea travel but allows the operation of mass public transport including the Light Rail Transits, the Metro Rail Transit, and the Philippine National Railways.
“Ang DOTr siguraduhin pa rin nila yung mga pasahero may one meter social distance,” Duque told Radyo Inquirer when asked about health protocols for mass public transport.
(The DOTr should still ensure that passengers have one-meter social distance.)
The country’s top health official also noted that mass transportation passenger volume is also expected to be reduced after the government canceled work and school starting March 15 until April 14.
“Dahil inuna muna yung suspension of school, suspension of work, yun yung malalaking social distancing measures,” Duque said.
(Because the suspension of school and suspension of work was previously ordered, these are the best social distancing measures.)
“Ang mangyayari ngayon kahit pinapatuloy ang mass transport, malamang magkakaroon ng distancing,” he added.
(These measures would ensure social distancing in mass public transport.)
The Philippine government ordered community quarantine on Metro Manila after it upgraded its alert level from Code Red Sub-Level 1 to Code Red Sub-Level 2 because of the presence of community transmission and a spike in recorded COVID-19 cases.
Currently, the Philippines has 52 confirmed cases, including five deaths, of coronavirus disease, a respiratory disease which is caused by a new coronavirus.
The new coronavirus, which first emerged from Wuhan City of Hubei province in China, causes mild symptoms but it can also cause serious illness such as pneumonia for older people and those with other health issues.