PRESIDENT RODRIGO Duterte called on the public to strictly follow the health protocols after noting the sudden surge of COVID-19 cases in Europe as a result of complacency.
Duterte, who cited the report of
Health Secretary Francisco Duque III, said complacency could lead to resurgence
in infections similar to what is happening in Europe.
Duque emphasized that a better
COVID-19 outlook in the country should not result in the public ditching
adherence to safeguards like social distancing and mask use, as what the
countries in Europe did, resulting in the fifth wave of infections.
The United Kingdom, Germany,
France, Italy, and Spain have seen surging coronavirus cases after some
relaxation in the implementation of health protocols, Duque reported.
He pointed to the UK’s “Freedom
Day” as an example, in which the government lifted COVID-19 restrictions to
resume business operation and allow mass gatherings, leading to the public
abandoning mask use and observance of distancing.
According to Duque, the rising
COVID-19 cases in European countries should serve as a warning to the
Filipinos, noting the pandemic cannot be defeated through vaccination alone.
“We have to increase our vaccination coverage, sustain the trajectory—couple
that with a much disciplined compliance to minimum public health standards,”
Duque said. (Malou Cablinda)
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