Almost a year after the Philippines was placed under lockdown, Malacañang appealed to the public to not get tired of following health protocols as the number of coronavirus (COVID-19) cases in the country continues to increase.
Presidential spokesman Harry Roque made the statement as the number of COVID-19 cases in the country reached 600,428 on Tuesday, March 9.
In a virtual presser, Roque, citing Health Undersecretary Rosario Vergeire, said that the public may have grown tired of wearing face masks and face shields, washing hands, and observing physical distancing for almost a year.
"Ang aking pakiusap, huwag po kayong mapagod kasi ngayon ay nandito na ang bakuna (My appeal to the public is please do not get tired of following the health protocols because the vaccine is here now)," he said.
"Narito na iyong simula ng katapusan ng ating problema; at kinakailangan abutan natin iyong bakuna (This is the beginning of the end and we have to stay alive until the vaccines are here)," he added.
Roque said that local government units (LGUs) should intensify the enforcement of health protocols.
"Ang mga lokal na pamahalaan, kinakailangan po talagang ipatupad ang ating mga protocols; dapat po ay dalhin sa mga isolation facilities ang mga nagpupositibo (LGUs should really enforce our protocols. Those who will test positive should be brought to the isolation facilities)," he said.
"Kinakailangang paigtingin po natin ang contact tracing; at kinakailangan po ‘no na ipatupad talaga natin ang minimum health protocols (We need to intensify our contact-tracing efforts and enforce the minimum health protocols)," he added.
In his public address on Monday, President Duterte attributed the recent spike of COVID-19 cases to non-compliance of the public with the safety measures against the disease.
"Ano'ng dahilan nito? Well, ‘yong hindi maniwala sa social distancing (What caused this? Well, it's the people who do not believe in social distancing)," he said.
"Wala ng ibang solusyon, eh (There's no other solution to this). It’s always the mask, the washing of the hands at social distancing," he added.