MANILA, Philippines – Preventing the spread of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is not just the work of medical frontliners but of everyone, Senator Cynthia Villar reminded the public on Thursday.
As the government gradually eases quarantine measures in several areas nationwide, Villar stressed the need for the public not to be complacent especially that a COVID-19 vaccine is yet to be developed.
“As we begin to adjust to the new normal way of life, we should not put our guards down. Alalahanin natin na nandyan pa rin ang virus at wala pang bakuna laban sa COVID-19 kaya kailangang sumunod sa health protocols,” Villar said.
“It is the duty of everybody to help fight COVID-19 by wearing face masks properly and observing 1-meter physical distancing when outside our homes. Lapses in health protocols endanger the well-being of our families and co-workers,” she added.
With more sectors reopening due to the relaxation of lockdown restrictions, Villar expressed hopes that the progress would continue so that employment will be generated for the estimated 7.5 million who lost their jobs due to the pandemic.
The National Economic and Development Authority earlier reported that the impact of the strict coronavirus lockdown since mid-March to the economy was “more severe than expected,” but under less-restrictive quarantine, economic recovery was underway. Currently, there are 72,629 confirmed cases of the respiratory disease nationwide, a majority of which came from Metro Manila, the country’s economic center.
Meanwhile, 23,623 patients have recovered although 1,843 died.
COVID-19 cases in the Philippines continue to surge on a daily basis which health authorities attributed largely to the country’s improved testing capacity and the increased contact among the population as a result of the relaxation of quarantine measures to reopen the pandemic-battered economy. — Jim Mendoza, trainee