SUMMARY
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The Department of Health (DOH) urged Filipinos to act with “extreme vigilance,” stay home, and suspend non-essential travel plans for the upcoming Holy Week after the Philippines reported its highest single-day record of new cases since the pandemic started.
On Saturday, March 20, figures showed the Philippines breaching an all-time high of 7,999 new cases reported in a single day as the country experienced a drastic increase in cases over the past few weeks.
“The Department of Health, together with the rest of the government, call on the public anew to suspend non-essential travel and ensure strict adherence to minimum public health standards (MPHS) across ALL settings,” the DOH said in a statement Saturday night.
“The DOH further calls on everyone to individually ensure minimal risk of contracting COVID-19 by strictly and consistently adhering to MPHS. The public is called on to wear their masks properly, and to observe other preventive strategies, AT ALL TIMES and IN ALL SETTINGS – even at home – in order to help reduce transmission,” it added.
READ: What you can do to stay safe during the coronavirus pandemic
Why the DOH is asking for ‘extreme vigilance’
As cases dangerously continue to climb, the DOH stressed that its “number one objective” now was to ensure that health care is not delayed or hampered for both COVID-19 and non-COVID patients.
Health officials said people can help ensure hospitals and other health centers do not get overwhelmed by acting with “extreme vigilance” and helping reduce transmission of the virus by consistently observing health practices like mask-wearing and using face shields properly, as well as observing physical distancing when in public places.
Why this matters
A year since the Duterte government implemented one of the world’s longest lockdowns, the country and in particular, Metro Manila, the center of the Philippines’ outbreak, is again seeing a record number of new infections reported daily.
Unlike the last peak in cases seen in July to August 2020, experts studying the pandemic said the recent spike in cases seen in Metro Manila had been especially concerning as infections were spreading quicker, prompting fears of a more threatening surge in cases.
In recent days, the DOH had reported tallying over 4,000 to 5,000 cases daily.
The DOH urged all who were experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 to immediately reach out to their barangay health emergency response teams who would handle appropriate management and referral for testing and isolation.
Health officials also gave the following tips to follow below:
If in need of medical attention, one can call these numbers:
– Rappler.com
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