Philippines Government on Monday raised an alarm over a spike in the number of coronavirus infections in the country and urged the public to strictly follow preventive protocols.
The surge in the confirmed COVID-19 cases came more than a month after the government began to ease the lockdown imposed at the capital Manila and other high-risk areas on June 1.
According to the Interior Secretary Eduardo Ano, the country is alarmed because the number of COVID-19 cases should have been maintained or gone down but many are really hard-headed.
“Because of our intention to open up the economy, it will really boil down to the individual persons on how we will adhere, comply, obey with the minimum health standards,” he added.
“Lockdown allows government to increase the capacities to test, trace, treat and isolate cases. So we can say we are ready, but the people must also cooperate,”Ano said.
On Monday, Philippines Department of Health reported 2,099 additional COVID-19 cases, bringing the national tally to 46,333.
It added that the death toll also rose to 1,303 with six additional deaths reported in the last 24 hours.
According to the department, the additional cases include: 1,258 fresh cases or those confirmed in the past three days, and 842 late cases or those confirmed previously but were just added to the tally.
The lockdown in the country’s most populous island of Luzon, including the capital Manila, and in other high-risk areas was imposed in mid-March.
However, since June 1, limited public transportation resumed, while shopping malls, salons, barber shops, restaurants and private offices were also opened in a minimum capacity.
