The Department of Health (DOH) on Monday, March 8, cited the non-compliance to health protocols as the underlying cause why coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases are increasing in the country.
"I want this clear to everyone, whatever increase in the number of cases we are having right now, cannot be attributed solely to the variant," DOH Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said in a virtual forum.
"The underlying cause of why cases are increasing is because of the non-compliance to health protocols that we have," she added.
Vergeire particularly referred to those who do not wear face mask and face shield as an example.
"As long as our public would not be able to comply with the minimum health protocols that are there, there is always that possibility of the cases increasing," she said.
"With the detection of variants, it has aggravated this increase in the cases," added Vergeire.
The DOH has recorded more than 3,000 new cases of COVID-19 on March 7.