Filipinos are “not powerless” against COVID-19 and could help prevent the “painful” deaths of people, including health workers, according to a Palace official.
Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles said the public could help save lives by staying at home and following other guidelines in the enhanced community quarantine enforced by the government.
The country has 6,087 COVID-19 cases as of April 18, including 397 fatalities. The Health department reported that 766 health workers have been infected with COVID-19 and 22 have died due to the illness.
“This is just another somber reminder for all of us to do our part to contain this outbreak…Hindi lang po mga numero ito, mga totoong tao po ito – people who have families, who have loved ones, who have friends – each loss cannot be quantified. Masakit po ito para sa ating lahat but we are not powerless against this disease. We can do something about it,” Nograles said.
“We can prevent painful losses among our health workers, sa kapwa nating Pilipino, may magagawa po tayong lahat para makaligtas ng buhay: Sundin ang ECQ, manatili sa bahay, maghugas ng kamay,” he added.
Nograles also urged the public to use the Stay Safe web application (www.staysafe.ph) to get information “to protect ourselves, our loved ones and our community” from COVID-19.
“Pumunta lamang po kayo sa www.staysafe.ph para kayo po ay makakatulong sa inyong pamahalaan at sa kapwa nating Pilipino na labanan ang COVID-19,” he said.
In the Stay Safe website, users are encouraged to stop the virus spread through “community-drive contact tracing, health condition reporting, and social distancing system.” (Genalyn Kabiling)
