COVID-19 health protocols enforced more strictly this holiday season — Año

Interior and Local Government Secretary Eduardo Año on Sunday said the enforcement of minimum health protocols against the spread of COVID-19 is stricter this Christmas season.

Interviewed on Dobol B sa News TV, Año said police visibility will be improved while barangay authorities will conduct patrols in concerned areas to remind them of these measures.

"Pagpasok ng December, kabi-kabilang anyaya ng party, kainan so hihigpitan natin ngayon,” he said.

“Ang police visibility  mas lalo natin ipapakita at ‘yung mga ating mga LGUs, barangay officials, barangay tanod iikot para ma-remind ‘yung mga tao na huwag na tayo mag-mass gathering,” he added.

Año said authorities will also discourage the conduct of Christmas parties and caroling.

They will also remind the public to observe physical distancing especially in Metro Manila where general community quarantine (GCQ) is still effective until Dec. 31.

“Itatawid lang naman natin itong 2020. By 2021, marami na tayong pag-asa. Baka makarating na rin sa atin 'yung bakuna natin so konting antay, sakripisyo at tiis,” he added.

Twenty people attending the reception for a baptism were arrested on Saturday night at the Manila North Cemetery for violating health protocols.

On Sunday, an expert from the University of the Philippines-OCTA Research team said the reproduction number of the coronavirus causing COVID-19 has gone up to 0.99 in the National Capital Region.

UP professor Guido David said that from 0.90 on December 1, NCR’s reproduction number hit 0.94 on December 5, reached 0.96 on December 10 then was 0.99 as of December 11. It was 0.88 last November.

They have previously said a value higher than one indicates the pandemic is spreading.

On Friday, the World Health Organization (WHO) warned that Christmas celebrations could turn to tears if people fail to keep up their guard against COVID-19 during the festive season.

WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the number of deaths in the coronavirus pandemic was surging and urged people to think very carefully about their holiday season plans.

"As you prepare to celebrate over the coming weeks, please, please consider your plans carefully. If you live in an area with high transmission, please take every precaution to keep yourselves and others safe," he said.

"That could be the best gift you could give — the gift of health,’ he added. —KG, GMA News