Duterte says relaxing lockdown rules doesn’t mean virus threat gone

MANILA, Philippines — While he did not announce his decision about community quarantines in areas across the Philippines, President Rodrigo Duterte said easing lockdown restrictions doesn’t mean that the COVID-19 threat in the country is gone.

In a taped message aired Tuesday morning, Duterte appealed to the people to continue to wear face masks when going out of their homes and observe social distancing rules even as the government relaxes some movement restriction in their localities.

“Ganito ha for those who would be allowed to go out and work and for those na hindi pa talaga puwede [that are not yet allowed], remember na itong ‘pag…the easing up of the restrictions hindi iyan sabihin na wala na ang COVID [this does not mean COVID is gone],” Duterte said.

“Dahan-dahan lang sa ngayon para walang ano… hindi tayo madapa. Dahan-dahan lang. Because we cannot afford… we cannot afford a second or third wave na mangyari,” he added.

(We’ll take one step at a time so we don’t fall. We do it slowly, because we cannot affor a second or third wave to happen.)

Duterte was expected to announce his decision whether to extend, lift, or ease community quarantine imposed in different regions and provinces across the nation. However, he deferred the announcement of his decision to his spokesman Harry Roque.

Duterte said Roque will utilize government-run media agencies to discuss thoroughly government the decision on the enhanced community quarantine and general community quarantine protocols set to expire on Friday, May 15.

Roque is set to have his regular televised press briefing in Malacañang on Tuesday at 12 p.m.

Nationwide, there are 11,086 confirmed cases of the coronavirus disease, including 1,999 recoveries and 726 deaths.

JPV