Angara urges public not to be complacent amid decline in COVID-19 cases
Senator Sonny Angara on Sunday urged authorities and the general public not to be complacent despite the reported decline in the number of COVID-19 cases over the week, saying the minimum safety protocols should still be observed.
“It is encouraging to see a steady decline in the number of people getting infected with COVID-19 in the country. Hopefully this trend will continue and we can open up more sectors of our economy faster,” Angara said in a statement.
Last Oct. 27, the senator noted that the Department of Health (DOH) reported a positivity rate of 7.6 percent based on the 41,049 tests it reported on Oct. 25.
In its latest report, the OCTA Research Group also said the positivity rate in the National Capital Region (NCR) has declined to five percent, the lowest rate since July 14. The World Health Organization (WHO), the group noted, considers a positivity rate of five percent or below as acceptable.
But despite the figures, Angara said the public and the government, as a whole, should remain vigilant as there are still many people getting infected with new COVID-19 variants continuing to emerge.
He said individuals should observe the proper wearing of face masks and practicing social distancing while outside of their homes even if they have already been vaccinated.
“Tayo ay nasa gitna pa din ng pandemiya kaya mag-ingat pa din tayo at magpa bakuna na sa mas madaling panahon (We are still in the middle of a pandemic, so we need to be careful and one must get vaccinated at the soonest time possible),” he said.
The lawmaker also pointed out the Philippines still has a long way to go in terms of vaccinating majority of the population.
“Nakikiusap tayo sa ating mga kababayan na hindi pa nababakunahan na ikonsidera na ang magpabakuna (We appeal to our fellowmen who have yet to get vaccinated to consider doing so),” Angara stressed.
“Napatunayan na nakakapagligtas ng buhay ang mga bakuna kaya pumunta na sa inyong mga barangay at magpa iskedyul na, (It’s been proven that the shots can help save lives, that’s why we urge our unvaccinated people to arrange their schedule within their barangays),” Angara said.