Department of Health – Technical Advisory Group (DOH-TAG) member Dr. Edsel Salvana warned against the possibility of an increase in COVID-19 cases following the easing of the alert level system in Metro Manila.
In the Laging Handa public briefing on Monday (Oct. 18), Dr. Salvana said an increase in cases may happen due to the public’s high mobility under Alert Level 3. He called on the public to follow minimum health standards to prevent the further spread of the virus.
“Well, every time naman natin ini-ease itong ating mga restrictions at tumataas po ang mobility and there is really is a higher chance for the virus na makapag-spread. Pero puwede po natin itong mapigilan sa pamamagitan ng adhering to our minimum public health standards at dahil mataas na rin iyong antas ng pagbabakuna, mas mababa ang tiyansa na magkaroon ng severe disease kung mahawa man ang isang tao at kinakailangan po talaga nating dahan-dahan,” Salvana said.
“We have to live with this virus eh, hindi na lang po talaga puwedeng lockdown tayo nang lockdown dahil magugutom po iyong ating mga kababayan,” he added.
Concerning this, Salvana said the alert level system in Metro Manila is effective, however, compliance with the minimum health standards is needed to continue the decrease of the number of cases in the region.
“Pero the fact na hindi naman natin nakita na tumataas siya ulit and it’s almost been a month nga, I think na it’s very, very encouraging iyong nakikita po natin and kung maipagpapatuloy po natin ito at bumaba pa lalo iyong mga hospital utilization and other metrics baka mas makapagpababa pa tayo lalung-lalo na sa Pasko baka maka-Level 2 na po tayo as long as tuloy-tuloy po iyong paggamit natin ng ating minimum public health standards at iyong pagbabakuna sa ating mga kababayan,” he said.
Report from Naomi Tiburcio/NGS- bny
