Pasay City Mayor Emi Calixto-Rubiano called for vigilance despite the successful initiatives of the local government in stopping the spread of COVID-19, saying "there is no time for complacency."
The City Health Office (CHO) reported on Monday, May 31, that there are now only 66 confirmed active COVID-19 cases in the city which are equivalent to 0.46 percent of the total number of 14,282 cases recorded since last year.
Rubiano said of the total number, 13,834 have fully recovered, while 382 died.
“Bagamat nalulungkot po ako para sa mga binawian ng buhay, sa isang banda, masasabi ko po na masaya ako dahil sa patuloy na pagbaba nang bilang ng mga aktibong kaso at ito ay katunayan ng matagumpay nating program para puksain ang virus (Even though I am sad for those who died, I am nevertheless happy with the continuing decline in the number of active cases and it shows that our program in fighting the virus is very much effective)," the mayor said.
Rubiano, however, said that although the number of cases is going down, this is not the time to be complacent. On the contrary, greater vigilance must be observed.
“Hindi po tayo dapat magpa-kumpiyansa sa halip ay hinihiling ko sa ating mamamayan na lalong pag-ibayuhin ang pag-iingat, sapagkat ito na ang pagkakataon natin para lalong maibaba ang bilang ng mga kaso sa lungsod,” (This is not the time to become overconfident and instead, I am urging the residents to continue to be watchful because this is is our chance to bring down the number of cases in the city), Rubiano said.
She reiterated her call to residents to strictly observe the EMI Habit, the city's basic health protocols on regular hand-washing, the wearing of face masks and face shields, as well as physical distancing in public places.
The mayor also credited the speedy utilization of vaccines in the continuing downward trend of cases, even as she renewed her call to residents to support the ongoing vaccination program of the local and national governments.
Rubiano said Pasay City is currently the third among Metro Manila cities in the utilization rate of vaccines with only Manila and Mandaluyong cities ahead of it.