Life can only return to normal if there’s cure or vaccine for COVID-19 —Palace

Life can only return to normal if a cure or vaccine for COVID-19 is found, Malacañang said Monday, as it reminded people living in areas under looser restrictions not to be complacent.

Many provinces and cities are now under general community quarantine, a less stringent measure compared to the enhanced community quarantine, which remained in place in areas with high risk of COVID-19 transmission such as Metro Manila, CALABARZON and Cebu City.

The government has already raised the possibility of placing some areas in Metro Manila under GCQ after May 15, even as presidential spokesperson Harry Roque warned the threat of the virus still exists.

“Kaya kinakailangan pong mag-ingat tayo dahil ang ibig sabihin lang ng pagbaba ng ECQ sa GCQ – mayroon pa rin pong banta hindi lang ganoon katindi – pero kapag binaba po sa GCQ, iyan po ay critical pa rin ang ating sitwasyon,” Roque said in a televised briefing.

“Hindi na po tayo pupuwedeng bumalik sa normal na bago dumating ang COVID-19 habang walang bakuna, habang walang gamot sa COVID-19. Kung tayo po ay magpipilit na magbubulag-bulagan sa COVID-19 ay baka ang kapalit po niyan ay ang ating mga buhay.”

As of Sunday, the Philippines had 10,794 COVID-19 cases with 1,924 recoveries and 719 deaths, according to the Department of Health. Majority of the cases (6,993) were reported in Metro Manila.

Based on the DOH data presented by Roque, Quezon City had the most number of cases in the capital region (1,558 cases), followed by Manila (811), Parañaque (500), Makati (477) and Mandaluyong (446).

“Makikita ninyo po na iyong mga critical areas ay kasama po diyan ang Quezon City, ang City of Manila, iyan po iyong dalawang may pinakamataas na pigura,” Roque said.

Pateros had 25 cases, the lowest in the region. —LDF, GMA News