Health protocol violators increase

MANILA, Philippines — Health protocol violations in Metro Manila have increased, especially in areas under granular lockdown, following the transition of the region to Alert Level 1, the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) said yesterday.

NCRPO chief Maj. Gen. Felipe Natividad said that from Feb. 28 to March 1, police arrested 4,209 people for violating minimum public health standards compared to 3,713 recorded the previous week – a 13.36 percent increase.

Despite the transition to more lenient restrictions under Alert Level 1, the NCRPO reported areas under granular lockdown in Metro Manila also increased.

“On the pilot implementation of Alert Level 1 status in the region from Feb 28 to March 1, 2022, NCRPO record shows that the areas placed under granular lockdown increased by 26.67 percent from 15 to 19 in NCR,” Natividad added, noting that police officers would continue enforcing interagency task force guidelines on 34 quarantine control entry points to the region.

LGU coordination

After receiving reports that some local government units did not release new executive orders on adjusted protocol guidelines, Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Dionardo Carlos has ordered police commanders to coordinate with LGUs on the implementation of quarantine protocols in areas under Alert Level 1.

“All chiefs of police concerned must seek guidance from the local chief executives on the enforcement aspect to avoid confusion,” he said in a statement.

Even if restrictions have been eased, Carlos said the observance of minimum public health standards such as wearing face masks in public places is still mandatory.

Meanwhile, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) said that it is clarifying with local officials and the Department of Trade and Industry the vaccine mandate at some public establishments even as the country has de-escalated its alert level.

“I think we have to discuss this with the LGUs. Hopefully we can meet with them very soon to clarify that the requirement for the presentation of a vaccination card is at the 3C establishments and not necessarily at the mall where that establishment is located,” DILG spokesperson Undersecretary Jonathan Malaya said in an interview yesterday with ANC.

He reminded that the standard rule is that only closed, crowded and close contact (3C) activities should require vaccination cards.

Recognition

The DILG will award 48,914 Barangay Health Emergency Response Teams for their efforts in curbing the COVID-19 pandemic in the country under the BHERT Excellence Awards in Thwarting the Coronavirus Disease (BEAT COVID-19) Project, Interior Secretary Eduardo Año said yesterday.

“We have to give credit where credit is due. Our BHERTs have been with us even before Day 1 of the pandemic. They are the ones working in communities. They have been instrumental in our country’s fight against COVID-19 and through the BEAT COVID-19 Project we are telling them that we see their contributions and that we value them,” Año said.

The DILG asked LGUs to participate by recognizing their BHERTs through award ceremonies (either face-to-face or virtually) that will be held no later than July 30.

Overloaded PUVs

Department of Health (DOH) Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire yesterday expressed concern over the reported overloading of public utility vehicles (PUVs).

“One of the things that we are concerned of is our transport sector.

It seems that we have gone back to the pre-pandemic state, where they go beyond 100 percent capacity in public transport. This may cause transmission of the virus, thus result in a spike in cases,” Vergeire said in a radio interview. She also urged transport operators and other concerned offices to ensure compliance to 100 percent passenger capacity.

Yesterday, the DOH reported additional 989 cases, bringing to 3,664,905 the total number of confirmed COVID cases nationwide, where 50,458 are active.

About 3,557,909 have already recuperated from the infection, including 1,349 newly reported recoveries. Additional 34 deaths pushed fatalities to 56,538. Of the 34 deaths, 11 occurred in February.

National Capital Region accounted for the biggest number of new cases with 192, followed by Calabarzon with 111 and Central Visayas with 101. The figure excluded data from five laboratories. – Romina Cabrera, Mayen Jaymalin, Emmanuel Tupas