The Philippine National Police (PNP) is now coordinating with the National Task Force Against COVID-19 for any public safety adjustment amid the detection of the Delta variant of the coronavirus disease in the country.
But PNP chief Police General Guillermo Lorenzo T Eleazar said the best protection still lies on the hands of the people by strictly following to what he described as tried-and-tested minimum public health safety protocol.
“The detection of the Delta variant in the country serves as a warning to all of us against complacency,” said Eleazar.
The Department of Health said 16 new Delta variant cases have been detected, including five returning overseas Filipinos (ROFs) and 11 local cases, bringing the total number to 35.
He said that the Filipino people themselves are aware that it was the Delta variant which wrought havoc in India and is now also considered as a serious threat in Indonesia.
"Again, the success and failure of our efforts to prevent the spread of this more transmissible and more deadly variant is on our hands: by strictly observing the tried-and-tested observance of the minimum public health safety protocol,” said Eleazar.
Meanwhile, some areas have shifted back to Enhanced Community Quarantine to prevent further COVID-19 transmissions. Iloilo province and the cities of Cagayan de Oro, Iloilo, and Gingoog have been placed under the strictest quarantine classification until July 31.
Eleazar also tasked police personnel manning quarantine control points to be more vigilant and heighten security measures to help in efforts to curb the spread of the coronavirus and its variants.
The PNP Chief likewise reminded concerned police units to ensure that rules under ECQ would strictly be enforced.