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Inter-province travels could spread COVID-19, UP expert says


Inter-province travels could spread COVID-19, UP expert says

An expert from the University of the Philippines-OCTA Research team on Thursday warned that travelling from province to province could spread the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

“Definitely may effect ‘yong (travel from province to province) kasi ‘yong epicenters nasa (National Capital Region) and CALABARZON so ‘pag nagta-travel ‘yong mga tao, nadadala nila ‘yong sakit,” Professor Guido David said in an interview on Balitanghali.

David added that there should be strict implementation of health protocols when travelling to prevent the further spread of the virus.

“So kung mag-o-open ng tourism, I mean open na ang tourism, strict ‘yong implementation for people travelling from province to province para hindi natin ma-spread ‘yong COVID-19 sa mga provinces na wala masyadong cases,” he said.

Bus routes from Metro Manila going to provinces resumed operations on September 30.

Meanwhile, several tourist destinations in the country such as Baguio, Tagaytay, and Boracay have also reopened to local tourists in a bid to boost the economy amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

In its earlier repot, the UP-OCTA Research said the country's reproduction number, which describes the reproduction of COVID-19 cases, has kept its downward trend.

However, David said the trend has been uneven throughout the country.

Further, he said these positive trends are not irreversible and that the public should always maintain their efforts in sustaining it.

“Kung ‘di susundin ang health protocols dahil nakikita nating pababa ‘yong trend, puwedeng mag-reverse, puwede pang dumami ulit ang cases at puwede tayo bumalik sa dati na medyo nasa crisis tayo,” David said.

He said the government should further intensity its efforts as regard to testing, contact tracing, and isolation.

“Sundin pa rin natin ang health protocols. Wear face shields, face masks. Importante ‘yang mga ‘yan. Importante ang actions ng community,” David added.

As of Wednesday, cases of COVID-19 in the country reached 329,637 including 273,723 recoveries and 5,925 deaths. —LBG, GMA News

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