79% of Pinoys believe protocol violations caused spike in COVID-19 cases –SWS

A majority of Filipinos believed that health protocol violations were the real cause behind the spread of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in the country, a survey by the Social Weather Station (SWS) showed Saturday.

According to Dano Tingcungco’s report on “24 Oras Weekend,” 79% of adult Filipinos nationwide said that violations of social distancing measures, lack of handwashing, and not wearing of face masks and face shields caused the increase in cases.

Meanwhile, 11% said the increase was caused by the Philippine government’s lack of preparation, while 10% attributed the rise in cases to coronavirus variants.

Results also show that 33% said that curbing the spread of the virus depended on individuals while 31% answered that it should be up to the government.

Meanwhile, 15% of Filipinos said it was up to members of their community, 9% answered it was up to the local government units, 8% said it was up to the family, and 4% said it was up to the healthcare workers.

The survey was taken from April 28 to May 2 using interviews of 1,200 adults nationwide.

The Department of Health meanwhile rejected the recommendation of lowering public health protocols for fully vaccinated individuals.

“Ito ‘yung isa sa dalawang bagay na makakatulong talaga sa atin para talaga tayo magkaroon na ng normalcy. Ito pong pag-comply sa minimum health protocols at saka pagbabakuna,” Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said.

(This is one of the two things that could help us obtain normalcy. This is complying with health protocols and vaccinations.)

— Joahna Lei Casilao/DVM, GMA News