Go: Don’t be complacent on COVID-19

MANILA, Philippines — With the downtrend in COVID-19 cases in the Philippines this week, Sen. Bong Go has warned the public not to be complacent so as not to waste gains from efforts and sacrifices made by Filipinos to address the pandemic.

As of Oct. 21, the Department of Health (DOH) stated that the seven-day average of daily new cases in the capital region is already approaching the level seen prior to the March and April surge.

“According to the DOH, new daily cases are declining compared to figures in recent months, which even reached 10,000,” he said in Filipino.

“There’s no letup in vaccination and in the implementation of rules to protects lives and livelihood of Filipinos,” Go said.

The DOH credited the improved numbers to the high vaccination rate in the National Capital Region (NCR) and the government’s prevent-detect-isolate-treat-reintegrate strategy.

“But as I’ve been saying, let’s not be complacent because the fight is not over yet. Let’s always follow health protocols and encourage everyone in our community to get vaccinated,” he said.

“Let’s not waste the sacrifices and efforts of people in government, healthcare workers, frontliners and most of all the discipline shown by every Filipino,” he pointed out.

Go cited significant improvements in the NCR Plus 8 bubble area comprising Metro Manila, Cebu, Davao, Batangas, Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna, Pampanga and Rizal, which used to be pandemic hotspots.

Go noted that Metro Manila has achieved herd immunity after vaccinating more than 80 percent of its population.

If cases continue to decline, the DOH said quarantine restrictions in Metro Manila may soon ease to Alert Level 2.