The Department of Health (DOH) said the public’s mobility rate in Metro Manila has increased amid the implementation of the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ).
In a statement on Tuesday (Aug. 17), DOH Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said the mobility rate of the National Capital Region (NCR) has increased by 39% compared to the past implementations of the ECQ.
The department also mentioned that thousands of quarantine violators were recorded based on the Philippine National Police’s (PNP) data.
“Kung hindi po tayo makakapag-comply ng safety protocols like nagma-mask ang mga tao, hindi nagkakaroon ng gatherings…Hindi rin natin ma-a-achieve ang objectives natin,” she stressed.
In a Laging Handa public briefing, OCTA Research group fellow Dr. Guido David agreed that the public’s mobility during the current ECQ has increased. He suggested more stringent restrictions to aid the matter.
“Minsang nagdrive ako sa labas. Lumabas ako, nakita ko, medyo mabigat ‘yung traffic and nagulat nga ako na, hindi yun ang in-expect ko considering nasa ECQ tayo. So kung mag-decide ‘yung IATF na i-extend, pwede pa nilang higpitan siguro at least kahit yung implementation ng quarantine.”
The noncompliance with the minimum health protocols is one of the reasons behind the increase of COVID-19 cases, according to the DOH.
Since Aug. 10 to Aug. 16, more than 12,800 daily average cases have been recorded. It is higher compared to the almost 9,000 cases last week. According to the department’s report on Monday (Aug. 16), the NCR, Calabarzon, and Central Luzon have recorded the most number of COVID-19 cases.
Report from Mark Fetalco/NGS-rir
