Senator Christopher “Bong” Go urged government authorities to consider imposing stricter measures on top of community quarantine protocols being imposed to control the rapidly rising number of Covid-19 cases in select areas, including the National Capital Region (NCR), in the past days.
“Kailangang higpitan muna natin ulit ang mga patakaran. Maraming nagkukumpyansa masyado. Kailangan maitigil ang mabilis na pagtaas ng mga kaso ng Covid-19, lalo na sa NCR, upang hindi bumagsak ang ating health care system (We have to impose again stricter measures. Many people have relaxed too much. We have to stop the surge of Covid-19 cases, particularly in NCR, so as not to overwhelm our health care system),” Go, chair of the Senate Committee on Health, said in a news release on Sunday.
He, however, recommended that government authorities and health experts must find a viable balance between protecting people’s lives from the threats of Covid-19 while ensuring that operations of essential public services and industries remain unhampered.
“Natuto na dapat tayo sa pinagdaanan natin noong nakaraang taon. (We should have learned from what we experience last year),” Go said, referring to the strictest enhanced community quarantine implemented throughout Luzon last year.
Go said essential and even non-essential services and industries may remain operational to support the economy but must be subjected to strict adherence to safety protocols and minimum public health standards.
“Ang importante ngayon, mailigtas natin ang buhay ng mga Pilipino dahil malaki na ang tinaas ng kaso ng nagkakasakit. Kailangan mapigilan ito habang patuloy ang ating pagbabakuna (What is important now is to save the lives of Filipinos because there is huge increase in the Covid-19 cases. We have to stop this while vaccination is ongoing),” he said.
Go also suggested to temporarily ban mass gatherings while work-from-home arrangements must be encouraged. Families, particularly elders and vulnerable members, must take extra precautions by staying at home and avoiding unnecessary travels.
“Iwasan rin muna natin ang mga bisita sa bahay. Limitado lang dapat sa iilang katao ang ating nakakasalamuha para maproteksyunan ang ating pamilya at hindi magkahawahan (We should discourage visitors in our home. Limit the people we meet to protect our family and avoid transmission),” Go said.
While the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of the Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) is expected to come up with recommendations to control the Covid-19 cases surge, Go reiterated the need for the public to continue cooperating with authorities and strictly follow health protocols.
“Huwag tayong maging kampante. Disiplina po ang kailangan dito ng bawat Pilipino (We should not relax. Discipline of every Filipino is what we need here),” he said.
He reminded the public to strictly follow minimum health and safety protocols needs such as wearing of face masks and face shields, washing of hands, and observing physical distancing.
Go also urged Filipinos to continue supporting the government and put their trust in the vaccines as it is integral to eventually restoring normalcy in the country.
“Magtiwala po tayo sa gobyerno at suportahan natin ang national vaccine roadmap. Ito po ang susi tungo sa muling pagbangon at pagbalik sa normal na pamumuhay. Huwag tayo matakot sa bakuna, matakot tayo sa Covid-19 dahil ito ang nakamamatay at ang bakuna ang solusyon sa sakit na ito (Let’s trust and support the national vaccine roadmap. This is the key for our recovery and return to normal life. Don’t be afraid to get vaccinated, but be afraid of Covid-19 because this is deadly and vaccine is the solution),” Go said. “For us to heal as one and recover as one, we must act as one.” (PNA)
