The government's pandemic task force agreed that the measures being implemented to combat the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic should be intensified as the country saw a recent spike in cases due to the new and more contagious variants of the disease.
In a press briefing on Friday, presidential spokesman Harry Roque announced that the Inter-agency Task Force (IATF) for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases approved the recommendations of the Department of Health (DOH) to intensify the implementation of minimum public health protocols.
"Yung mga indibidwal, patuloy po ang mask, shield, hugas, at iwas (Individually, we should continue wearing our face masks and shields, proper handwashing, and observing physical distancing)," he said.
"Kinakailanagn din ipagpatuloy ng pagbigay ng tamang impormasyon ukol sa COVID-19 (We should also continue giving the correct information regarding COVID-19)," he added.
For establishments, Roque said owners should implement risk mitigation strategies like engineering controls, ventilation, and contact tracing.
Local governments
Local government units (LGUs) are required to implement the COVID-19 Coordinated Operations to Defeat Epidemic (CODE) through the intensified mobilization of barangay health emergency response teams.
LGUs are tasked to ensure that all suspected COVID-19 cases will undergo swab test, that there will be contact tracing, and that close contacts will be quarantined and tested within 24 hours.
The CODE likewise required LGUs to monitor workplaces and other closed settings for their compliance to the minimum health standards.
SBMA
Meanwhile, the IATF approved the recommendation to allow the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) to accept all kinds of vessels for a hot-warm layup as part of its function as a crew change hub.