Senator and Chair of the Senate Committee on Health Christopher “Bong” Go once again underscored the need for Filipinos to continue strictly adhering to minimum health protocols like wearing face masks, social distancing and proper handwashing. This, after the Department of Health on Monday raised the possibility of placing the National Capital Region under Alert Level 2 amid an uptick in COVID-19 cases in the region.

While Metro Manila remains at low risk, it posted a 1.6 percent rise in positivity rate last week. According to DOH, a positive two-week growth rate was observed from 14 out of 17 cities and municipality.

“Nakakabahala ang bahagyang pagtaas ng mga bilang ng bagong kaso sa Metro Manila. Sana, hindi naman mauuwi ito sa pagpapatupad ng mas mahigit ng mga quarantine measures,” remarked Go.

“Huwag tayong magkumpiyansa. Habang andyan pa ang virus, habang meron pa tayong pandemya, sundin pa rin ang mga itinakdang minimum health protocols,” he stressed.

DOH also reported an increase in COVID-19 cases nationwide. A total of 1,682 infections or around 240 cases per day were recorded from June 6 to 12, which was 30.4% higher compared to the 1,295 cases recorded from May 30 to June 5.

The health department attributed the slight rise in cases to the public’s mobility, the entry of more transmissible COVID-19 subvariants such as BA.4, BA.5 and BA 2.12.1, and the waning immunity due to low booster rates.

“Napaka-importante ng bakuna. Kasama dito ang booster shots. Wag natin ito balewalain dahil ang bakuna ang tanging susi para makabalik sa normal na pamumuhay,” Go stressed.

Health Secretary Francisco Duque III has earlier underscored that consistent compliance with minimum health standards, including the wearing of face masks, allowed the country to maintain its low COVID-19 case rates. He also cited a survey by Johns Hopkins University which showed that 93 to 96 percent of Filipinos were compliant with the health protocols in the country.

Go observed, “Philippines has one of the best pandemic responses in the region because of the able leadership of President (Rodrigo) Duterte and our good science-based policies. Lahat ng ito, kasama na ang kooperasyon ng mga Pilipino at sakripisyo ng mga frontliners natin, ang dahilan kung bakit mas manageable na ngayon ang pandemya. Wala pa akong nakikitang rason bakit talikuran natin ang mga polisiyang ito.”

“Ikumpara sa mas mga mayayamang bansa na, sa kabila ng kabilang maraming resources, ay maagang nagtanggal ng kanilang mga health protocols, kasama na ang mandatory face mask sa pampubilkong lugar, ay nagkaroon recently ng mga surges. Huwag naman sana nating hintayin na mangyari pa sa atin ito,” he reiterated.

The senator then renewed his call to all those eligible to get their complete vaccine doses and booster shot as soon as possible. He also appealed to the national and local public officials to expedite the vaccine rollout, especially in far-flung areas.

“Magpabakuna na sa pinakamalapit na vaccination site upang makuha ang proteksyon na kailangan laban sa patuloy pa ring kumakalat na COVID-19 na sakit at iba’t ibang variants nito,” stressed Go.

“Paraan din ito upang maprotektahan ang inyong mga pamilya at mga komunidad. Huwag nating sayangin ang magandang takbo ng ating pandemic response at vaccine rollout. Mas palakasin pa natin ang pagbabakuna lalo na ng booster shots para hindi na tumaas muli ang kaso ng nagkakasakit,” he added.