Shoppers crowd Divisoria, Baclaran amid surge in COVID-19 cases

With COVID-19 cases continuing to rise across the country, crowds formed in several business areas over the weekend making it less likely minimum public health standards were being met.

Shoppers crowded in Divisoria, with some saying that they had to risk going to the area to buy cheaper goods. Some said they had started to purchase goods for the December holidays, as reported on GMA’s “24 Oras Weekend” on Sunday.

It was a similar scene in Baclaran, where customers said they needed to buy some things that were only found in the shopping district. However, they were being extra cautious.

Sellers in both areas said they had no choice but to continue doing business as they had to make a living amid the continued lockdowns which had hit their incomes.

Metro Manila remains under a modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ), the second-strictest restriction, until September 7. No official guidance has been given by Malacañang.

Violations of minimum health protocols were also recorded in public utility vehicles, where passengers were seated close together, with some even eating.

For its part, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said they would boost their force leading up to the December holidays, and violators would face sanctions.

“Mananagot hindi lang itong mismong nagva-violate diyan ang pwedeng tiketan, kundi pati na rin ‘yung mga driver,” PNP Chief General Guillermo Eleazar said in the same report.

(Violators will be made to answer. Not only the passengers would be given tickets, but also the drivers.)

The Philippines on Sunday, September 5, reported 20,016 new COVID-19 cases, marking the third straight day with over 20,000 cases.

The latest report brought the total caseload to 2,080,984. This includes 157,438 active cases, 1,889,312 recoveries, and 34,234 deaths. — Jon Viktor Cabuenas/DVM, GMA News