AN ENHANCED community quarantine violator has fingerprints taken at the Quezon City Police District Station 7 (Cubao) Police Community Precinct 2 for profiling. Others were subjected to a film viewing to better educate them about the COVID-19 pandemic to convince them to stay at home. (Alvin Kasiban)
By GENALYN KABILING
Authorities will not allow the “irresponsible” few to endanger the welfare of the majority amid the strict enforcement of the quarantine regulations to curb the coronavirus outbreak, a spokesman of a government task force said.
According to Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles, a person who violates the stay-at-home policy becomes a “health threat” to others who follow the health precautions against COVID-19.
“There have been reports that the government plans to strictly enforce the ECQ in order to contain the COVID-19 outbreak. These are measures that are being adopted in order to ensure that the irresponsible behavior of a few does not threaten the welfare of the majority that have followed the ECQ and the stringent social distancing guidelines enforced by government,” Nograles said,
Nograles, spokesman of the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases, pleaded anew to the public to follow the quarantine regulations, including stay at home and observing physical distancing, to avoid getting infected. COVID-19 cases have soared past 6,500 in the country.
He acknowledged the gravity of the health emergency besetting the country as he asked for public cooperation to contain the disease outbreak.
“This pandemic has exacted a heavy toll on our country. Lives have been cut short. Loved ones have been taken from us. Never in our lifetime have we faced a public health threat of this magnitude,” he said.
“Yet, neither have we – individually or collectively – been in such a position to directly influence the course of events. Sa madaling salita, mayroon pong pagkakataon na ang bawat isa po sa atin ay may magagawa para masugpo itong pandemic na ito, kaya bahay muna, buhay muna. Lahat po tayo makakatulong sa laban na ito,” he said.
Citing data from the Philippine National Police (PNP), Nograles said there have been 130,177 violators of the quarantine rules enforced since March 17. Of this number, the police arrested 30,366 quarantine violators.
Around 2,740 drivers of private vehicles have been apprehended by the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority for allegedly violating physical distancing rules.
Nograles said these violations were “not trivial” but actually have huge impact on the health of the larger population.
“Every time an individual violates ECQ guidelines, he or she chooses, to become a health threat to those who abide by it,” he said.
“Let’s follow all the rules and regulations ng ating gobyerno dahil ginagawa namin ang lahat ng ito para sa proteksiyon ninyo at sa kaligtasan ng inyong mga mahal sa buhay,” he said.
