THE Department of Health (DOH) yesterday said the threat of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in the National Capital Region remains high despite the downward trend that the region has been seeing in recent days.
“While we are seeing that cases are going down, we are not out of the woods yet. The virus is still here. And the threat of reversing the trend is still present,” said Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire in a virtual press briefing.
She said the risk of transmission is still high, thus there is no reason yet for Metro Manila to celebrate.
Vergeire noted how the NCR still has a seven-day moving average of 1,226 cases, which she said is still a far cry from the seven-day moving average of 430 cases before cases surged in mid-March.
“The trend is going down but it is not yet as fast as we want it to be. What we want is to go back to pre-surge numbers. That is our target, to go back to that level again,” she said.
The DOH issued the statement on the heels of the reported pool party and drinking session in Barangay Nagkaisang Nayon in Quezon City.
The incident turned out to be a super-spreader event as at least 51 residents who attended the party tested positive for COVID-19.
According to Vergeire, such incidents are unfortunate as it goes against the government’s bid to end the pandemic.
“Let us continue to avoid such happenings because the virus is still here and the probability of transmission is still present,” she said, adding: ““Let’s be vigilant and remain to be in your own family bubble.”
Meanwhile, Bulacan provincial director Col. Lawrence Cajipe said 75 persons were apprehended and given citation tickets for violation of health protocols while swimming at a river in Norzagaray town in Bulacan on Sunday.
Cajipe said he ordered the dispatch of policemen at Bakas river in Barangay Matictic after receiving information about a large number of people gathering in the area. He said PNP chief Gen. Guillermo Eleazar was among those who called his attention about the violation.
Cajipe said responding policemen confirmed a large number of people, including children, were swimming at the “good spot” of the seven-kilometer river.
“Based on the report of the Norzagaray police station, 75 persons were issued tickets. They were issued citation tickets because Bulacan has an ordinance about observance of health protocols,” said Cajipe.
Cajipe said the PNP is conducting further investigation on the incident, especially amid statements from those who were apprehended that they paid entrance fee to barangay officials before they were allowed entry to the area.
Cajipe said the violators protested their arrest as they cited the payment that they made to the barangay leaders.
“Our policemen explained to the people that even if they paid to the barangay officials, this does not allow them to violate health protocols,” said Cajipe.
Interior Undersecretary Jonathan Malaya urged the public anew to avoid mass gatherings to prevent another surge in COVID-19 cases.
“Pool parties are definitely mass gatherings so we appeal to the public, we appeal to them to please stop conducting these mass gatherings because these mass gatherings are not only illegal but as shown in what happened in Quezon City, it’s a continuing threat to public health,” said Malaya.
Malaya said everyone should follow health protocols. “Otherwise we’re looking at an India scenario for the Philippines and we can no longer afford that,” said Malaya, noting the pandemic’s impact to the economy.
“Let’s exercise discipline because if we do not exercise discipline, we will have an India-based scenario especially with the variants from other parts of the world,” Malaya also said.
RELIGIOUS GROUPS
Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) chairman Benhur Abalos, over the public briefing “Laging Handa,” said religious groups need not seek permits from local government units to resume services like mass and similar activities so long as the maximum 30 percent capacity is strictly observed.
“Nag-meeting po ang lahat ng alkalde ng Kalakhang Maynila at talaga pong unanimous, 17 city mayors pumayag na sa 30 percent. Dahil bumaba na ang ating mga kaso at maganda naman ang implementasyon ng minimum health protocols kaya okay na po iyon (All 17 mayors in Metro Manila agreed unanimously to allow 30 percent. We are happy that the number of our new cases (of COVID-19) continues to drop, and the minimum health protocols are being observed),” Abalos said.
Abalos said local governments prefer to leave it to the religious sector to maintain compliance, only stepping in to issue a cautionary word if serious violations are reported.
“We trust everything can be threshed out through regular dialogues with the Church,” he said.
The MMDA chairman said he is buoyed by the recognition of the government’s efforts to curb the pandemic as he noted that the Philippines efforts has been ranked 13th out of 47 countries in Asia and 37th out of 196 globally.
He attributed this to the sacrifices of the Filipino public, the doctors and nurses, government officials and the private sector.
“This was a tough challenge. But we can overcome if we all carry our share. It is encouraging to see the response from our big businesses including our mall owners,” he said. — With Victor Reyes and Peter Tabingo
