(Eagle News)– The Philippines has yet to slow down the spread of the coronavirus disease 2019, the Palace said on Thursday, April 16.
“Nakikita po natin na tumaas, bumaba at pataas pa rin ang po ang COVID (cases). Nakakalungkot po na bagamat tayo po’y na-extend ng ECQ ay hindi pa rin natin nafa-flatten ang curve,” Roque said in a press conference, with only two weeks left before the supposed lifting of the enhanced community quarantine on April 30.
He appealed for the public to stay at home and observe social distancing measures.
“Itigil niyo na ang pagiging pasaway. Manatili kayo sa inyong mga tahanan. Kung ikukumpara ninyo ang ECQ sa ibang bansa, lahat sumusunod. Sa Singapore, pati sa Malaysia. Dito lang po sa Pilipinas nagkaroon ng traffic sa (South Luzon Expressway) at Divisoria despite ECQ . Mahiya naman po tayo,” Roque said.
Asked if the curve would be flattened by April 30, Roque said in an ideal world, “dapat ipagpatuloy ang ECQ pero ang realidad nga ay kinakailangan din magkaroon ng kabuhayan ang ating mga kababayan.”
He said the government was trying to strike a balance so far “between ‘yung obligasyon ng estado na protektahan ang kalusugan ng mga mamamayan (at) doon naman sa karapatan ng mga mamamayan na magkaroon ng hanapbuhay.”
“Ngayon palang naguusap na ang (Inter-Agency Task Force on the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases), miyembro ng gabinete, nagexplore ng options kung papaano ang gagawin,” he said.
President Rodrigo Duterte imposed the Luzon-wide ECQ in March to help contain COVID-19, and later extended its effectivity to April 30.
The Philippines has so far breached the 5000 mark in COVID-19 cases, with recoveries slightly overtaking deaths in the Department of Health’s latest report.
