The Department of Health (DOH) urged the public to act with extreme vigilance and suspend non-essential travels this coming Holy Week amid the surge in COVID-19 cases in the Philippines.
“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.
The DOH also urged Filipinos to wear masks at home.
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“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.
The Philippines recorded record-high 7,999 new COVID-19 infections on Saturday, the highest since the pandemic started.
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The DOH stressed that its number one objective right now is to ensure that the health care system will not get overwhelmed and to deliver unhampered service to both COVID-19 and non-COVID patients.
Earlier, independent expert panel OCTA Research warned that hospitals in Metro Manila will reach full capacity by first week of April if surge on COVID-19 cases persists. (RA)
