Palace ‘concerned,’ ‘worried’ about recent uptick in COVID-19 cases

Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles during the Laging Handa press briefing on the update of COVID 19. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang and even President Rodrigo Duterte himself are getting “concerned” and “worried” about the rising number of COVID-19 cases in the country just amid the holidays, Cabinet Secretary and acting presidential spokesperson Karlo Nograles said Wednesday.

With this, Nograles called on the public to continue observing the strict health protocols, especially physical distancing. He also reminded local government units to enforce protocols such as implementing granular lockdowns when there are spikes of COVID-19 cases in their localities.

“Of course, nababahala kami, nababahala ang IATF, nababahala ang Pangulo, nababahala ang buong pwersa ng Malacañang at dapat ang taumbayan din. Lahat tayo ay may responsibilidad,” he said in a Palace briefing.

(We are worried. The IATF is worried, the President is worried. Malacañang is worried and all Filipinos should be, as well. We all have a responsibility.)

He said many people appear to have already forgotten to observe physical distancing as crowds can be seen in some areas.

“Ngayong panahon ng Pasko ang panahon ng pag-iingat. Mask, hugas, iwas, plus bakuna pa rin. Hindi p’wedeng mawala ang isa diyan sa apat,” he said.

(The Christmas season should also be a season to be careful. Masks, physical distancing, handwashing, and getting vaccinated. We should not miss any one of these four.)

“Hindi dahil naka-mask tayo at naghugas tayo at bakunado ay nakakalimutan na natin ‘yung iwas,” Nograles added.

(We should still observe physical distancing even if we are wearing masks, washing our hands, and having been vaccinated.)

He said the public has a “shared responsibility” in combating the COVID-19 pandemic and this should not be shouldered by the government alone.

“‘Wag natin sayangin ang lahat ng pinahirapan nating lahat. Lahat dapat tayo ay maging concerned,” the Palace official said.

(Let’s not waste our efforts. We should all be concerned.)

The independent research group OCTA earlier reported a rise in the COVID-19 reproduction number in Metro Manila, prompting the region to be upgraded to “low risk” for COVID-19 from a “very low risk.”