Isko urges Manilans: Follow health protocols to prevent COVID-19 surge

Manila mayor Isko Moreno on Tuesday urged city residents to continue observing health protocols and follow safety guidelines to prevent a surge of COVID-19 cases.

Moreno, also a presidential aspirant, said a granular lockdowns have been enforced in three Manila barangays after a slight increase of coronavirus cases monitored over the weekend.

“Ang lockdown naman po, katulad ng polisiya ng IATF (Inter-Agency Task Force), kapag medyo nagkakaroon ng konting kapabayaan at lumalago ‘yung COVID infection sa isang lugar eh normal po na i-lockdown ‘yung isang area,” Moreno said in a statement.

(The lockdown is in accordance with the policy of the IATF, where if there is a little negligence and the COVID infection increases in an area, it is normal to enforce a lockdown there.)

“So, we would continue to have those kinds of surgical lockdown kasi ang gusto natin, makapagbukas ang negosyo, makapagtrabaho ang tao, makapag-hanapbuhay, unti-unti tayong mag-normalize,” he added.

(So, we would continue to have those kinds of surgical lockdowns because what we want is for the businesses to open, for people to work, for employment, and for us to normalize gradually.)

The Manila City reported a total of 91 active cases, with 90,501 recoveries and 1,763 deaths as of December 26.

The Manila Health Department recorded 11 new active cases, five new recoveries, and zero deaths for that day.

Moreno said three areas with the highest number of active COVID-19 cases are Tondo 1 with 29, San Andres with 12, and Pandacan and Sampaloc with seven each.

“Pero kailangang maging responsable rin tayo. Kailangan magsuot pa rin tayo ng face mask. The mask is a must. ‘Yun lang kailangan natin. Tapos magpabakuna tayo,” he added.

(However, we must also be responsible. We still need to wear a face mask. The mask is a must. That is all we need. Then let us get vaccinated.)

Moreno also welcomed the approval of the Food and Drug Administration for the emergency use authorization (EUA) for Pfizer-BioNTech's COVID-19 vaccine for ages 5 to 11 years old.

He added that Manila City will continue to assist provinces lagging behind in their vaccination drive due Typhoon Odette onslaught.

“We continue to share in our own little way, magbakuna sa probinsya. Katulad ng panawagan ng pangulo na bakunahan at tumulong yung mga syudad na katulad ng Maynila na marami nang nabakunahan, na bakunahan ‘yung ibang mga probinsya,” he added.

(We continue to share in our own little way, we will help vaccinate residents in the province. Just like the president's call to cities like Manila, which have already vaccinated many, we will help to vaccinate other residents in the provinces.)

The National Vaccination Operations Center (NVOC) earlier said that some areas hit by Odette including portions of Palawan, Eastern Visayas, Southern Leyte, and Masbate have resumed their vaccination rollouts. — BM, GMA News