Palace: Public cooperation needed to prevent surge in infections amid looser restrictions

Malacañang on Thursday said the government expects COVID-19 cases to increase after it decided that restrictions will be further eased to help revive the economy.

In a televised briefing, presidential spokesperson Harry Roque agreed with the statement of OCTA research team member Ranjit Rye that COVID-19 transmission is expected to increase again following the government’s move to expand the age group allowed to go out and proposal of shorter curfew hours.

“May posibilidad po iyan. Pero naniniwala naman ako po na makikinig ang taumbayan, na iyon ngang endorser ng mask, hugas, iwas ay ang Presidente na mismo,” Roque said.

“At ang tingin ko naman ay hindi naman tayo nagkulang doon sa pag-educate ng publiko na madali naman pong maiwasan ang COVID-19  kung susunod lang doon sa mga minimum health protocols.”

A poll conducted by the Social Weather Stations from September 17 to 20 found that 79% of adult Filipinos always use a face mask when going out of their houses and 67% wash their hands several times a day.

Sixty percent of the 1,249 respondents said they always keep physical distance from others, and 56% indicated that they always use a face shield whenever riding public transportation or visiting establishments.

“Ang iniiwasan po natin ay iyong mga magkakasakit nang malala, pinapalakas po talaga natin ang critical care capacity natin,” Roque said.

“Pinaghahandaan po natin iyan dahil ang katotohanan naman po ay habang hindi tayo nagbubukas ng ekonomiya, mas marami po ang nagugutom sa atin.”

The Philippines has so far reported 348,698 COVID-19 cases, including 294,161 recoveries and 6,497 deaths. — RSJ, GMA News