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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider Duterte orders absolute transparency amid resurgence of COVID-19 cases in PH

Duterte orders absolute transparency amid resurgence of COVID-19 cases in PH

Published Mar 7, 2020 12:00 am
By Argyll Cyrus Geducos President Duterte has instructed all relevant agencies to be absolutely transparent to the public following the confirmation of two new coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) cases in the Philippines Friday. President Rodrigo Roa Duterte delivers a speech during a meeting with local chief executives at the SMX Convention Center in Pasay City on February 10, 2020. (ALFRED FRIAS/PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO / MANILA BULLETIN) President Rodrigo Roa Duterte (ALFRED FRIAS/PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO / MANILA BULLETIN/ FILE) In a statement Saturday morning, Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo said the President recognizes that the people have every right to be informed about the situation. "At the very outset of the surge of news reports concerning COVID-19, the President has categorically mandated relevant instrumentalities of the government to be absolutely transparent to the Filipino people as regards this health issue, aware that we have the right to be informed of the conditions surrounding us," he said. "Local transmission, if and when it happens in the country, would thus be unequivocally reported to the people," he added. The Palace official likewise appealed to the public not to spread unconfirmed reports about the two new COVID-19 cases, and only get their information from reliable sources, particularly the Department of Health (DOH). "We also ask the public to be scrupulous in reading informative materials and not to share unverified and unofficial information that may only cause undue panic among the population," Panelo said. "We call on everyone to be the voice of calm and sobriety. The DOH, which has been following established international protocols, continues to monitor persons under investigation," he added. According to Panelo, the DOH has been coordinating with the concerned local government units (LGUs) to identify persons who had interaction with the two patients, as well as to strengthen the infection prevention and control protocols of the aforesaid LGUs. He added that the DOH has started to do contact tracing. The DOH has also been in close coordination with their counterparts on the foreigners who reportedly tested positive for COVID-19 after spending a few days in the Philippines. Meanwhile, Malacañang reminded the public to practice protective measures to guard themselves against COVID-19, such as frequent and proper hand-washing, observing proper cough etiquette and maintaining distance from individuals experiencing respiratory symptoms, among others. "By performing these safeguards, we likewise do our share in our community's fight against this disease," Panelo said.
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