President Rodrigo Duterte is convinced that the reason for the rise of the COVID-19 case is because many Filipinos ignore the minimum health standards.
Because of this, Duterte advised the public not to forget to follow health and safety protocols.
“Alam mo, maraming namatay, marami rin ang may sakit. Ang pinakamataas ngayon Metro… ang Manila, Manila mismo. Ngayon, ano’ng dahilan nito? Well, ‘yong hindi maniwala sa social distancing, hindi naman naniniwala sa personal hygiene,” Duterte said in a public address Monday night.
“We have these variants. Malakas ito.. Sana, sana kung makatulong kayo sa bayan, sumunod na lang kayo at medyo mapababa natin ang kaso ng COVID-19,” he added.
In the same public address, Health Secretary Francisco Duque said that following health protocols to prevent COVID-19 is as effective as vaccines.
The president also asked the public to trust the government in its mandates.
“Hindi kami nagkakamali kasi trabaho namin iyan. Bayad kami diyan. At kung bayad kami diyan, ano gagawin namin sa pagbabayad niyo? Mag-upo lang? Kung ano ang mandate ng batas kasi kami ang inyong hinalal, eh di sumunod kayo kasi ito ay para sa inyo,” he said.
Duterte believes COVID-19 cases increased due to public’s negligence
Duque reported to Duterte the continued rise of COVID-19 cases in Metro Manila, Calabarzon, Central Luzon, and Central Visayas.
In Metro Manila, Pasay City and Malabon are in the “critical risk” classification while Navotas, Makati, and San Juan are in the “high risk” classification.
When it comes to the health care utilization rate of hospitals, Central Visayas and the Cordillera Administrative Region are said to be the highest. It is also high in Makati City and Davao Occidental.
According to Duque, cases have risen due to the more contagious United Kingdom and South African variants of the disease.
The Department of Health has reportedly met with the mayors of Metro Manila to intensify the prevention, detection, isolation, and treatment of those affected by the virus.
Duque also advised increasing the number of contract tracers in selected areas such as Pasay, Malabon, Navotas, and Makati.