Public behavior is crucial in sustaining the flattening of the curve, according to an expert from the University of the Philippines (UP).
Professor Ranjit Rye, founder of the UP Octa Research Team reminded Filipinos to continue observing minimum health standards set by the government after the country reported its lowest number of new daily COVID-19 cases in nearly eight weeks on Monday.
"Yung ginagawa natin bilang citizens at individual ay mas importante pa kesa sa anong prevention ng government laban sa COVID. Yung ginagawa ng taumbayan, kailangan natin i-sustain to (What we do as citizens and individuals is more important that any government prevention against COVID. What we are doing now, we just need to sustain it)," Rye said in an interview over DZBB on Tuesday.
"Yung ginagawa natin diba magsuot ng face mask. Ang galing ng face shield, malaking bagay ang face shield. Eto yung talagang importante pag lalabas man tayo. Physical distancing tsaka maghuhugas tayo ng kamay. Yung maliliit na ginagawa nating ganyan, nakakababa yan ng rate of transmission (The things we do like wearing of mask and face shield. The face shield really helps a lot. This is what’s important when we go out. Physical distancing and washing our hands. The small things that we do help lower the rate of virus transmission)," he continued.
Meanwhile, Dr. Michael Tee of UP OCTA Research likewise credited the public's cooperation and the antivirus measures of local government units.
"Sa aming bulletin dito sa Philippine General Hospital, nakita ko kanina lang na mas maluwag na hindi na ganun kasikip. Pero hindi ibig sabihin ng mga ganitong magagandang balita ay masaya na tayong lahat lalabas. Kaya ito nangyayari kasi nakipag-cooperate tayo, nakaaksyon ang ating local government unit sa tamang paraan ng isolation, quarantine, at eto na yung tulong-tulong, bayanihan natin (In our bulletin at the Philippine General Hospital, I saw that our capacity is no longer overwhelmed. But this good news doesn't mean that we can all go out now. This is happening because the public is cooperating, local government units are making the right steps when it comes to isolation and quarantine. This is the fruit of our coordination)," Tee said.
Earlier, the research group said the transmission of COVID-19 in the Philippines has slowed with Metro Manila and Calabarzon flattening the curve of infections.
The total number COVID-19 cases in the country is now at 238,727 after the Department of Health on Monday reported 1,383 new cases.