The president of the Philippine Medical Association (PMA) on Monday, Feb. 28, told the public not to get complacent as Metro Manila sets to enter Alert Level 1 in March.

In a Laging Handa Briefing, PMA President Dr. Benito Atienza reminded Filipinos to still observe minimum public health standards as more establishments and workplaces are now allowed to operate at full capacity.

"Pinapaalalahanan po natin yung ating mga kababayan... Lalo na ngayon mag-eeleksyon, mag-ho-Holy Week ay sundin pa rin po natin ang minimum health protocol lalo na po sa sasakyan, yung mga aircon (We our reminding the public, especially now during the election season and as the Holy Week approaches, we must still follow the minimum health protocol, especially in public transportations, inside air-conditioned public utility vehicles)," Atienza said.

"Dapat sa bahay, yung airflow po natin, dapat ma-maintain natin na yung hangin may pumapasok at lumalabas, hindi po tayo kulong na kulong (In our homes, we should be able to increase our airflow, we must ensure proper ventilation)," he added.

Atienza also urged parents to have their children vaccinated against COVID-19.

"Ang pinapaliwanag po namin sa kanila, marami po tayong bakuna sa health centers for our five to 11 years old na marami pa pong hindi nababakunahan (We explain to them that we have a lot of vaccines in health centers for our children aged give to 11, many of them are still unvaccinated)," Atienza added.

He also noted that there are still 200,000 individuals with co-morbidities and at least two million senior citizens who have not been vaccinated against the viral illness.

"Ang panawagan natin para po tayo magtuloy-tuloy na sa new normal, ito na ang pagkakataon para makalabas sila para magpabakuna... Sana po magpabakuna na sila para tuluyan na nating maabot yung new normal (We appeal to them, for us to continue with the new normal, this is the opportunity for them to go out and be vaccinated so we can finally reach the new normal)," Atienza said.