BY ALEXANDRIA SAN JUAN
The health crisis is far from over.
While the curve of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) infections in the country has flattened, experts from the University of the Philippines (UP) urged the government to carefully review the lifting of restrictions and opening of some establishments to sustain the momentum in fighting the pandemic.
Professor Ranjit Rye, founder of the UP Octa Research Team, also reminded the public to still observe strict health protocols as the flattening of the curve does not mean that the heath crisis is over.
“’Yung number of new cases na dumadagdag ay kumokonti na pero hindi ibig sabihin nito ay wala nang COVID. Dapat ay mas mapaigting pa ‘yung ating pag-iingat. Hindi ito panahon para magpabaya at mag-kumpyansa,” Rye said in an interview.
“Lalo nating siguraduhing sundan ang basic health protocols na sinasabi ng gobyerno tulad ng pagsusuot ng face mask, face shield, pagkakaroon ng physical distancing at proper hygiene. Malaking bagay ang magagawa ng indibidwal laban sa COVID-19,” he added.
Rye pointed out that the current positive trend his team is observing can change next week if the government and the public relaxed in sustaining the efforts from the modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ).
“Yung pagbubukas ng ibang establishment, ng mga gym, pag-expand ng seating [capacity] sa mga restaurant, kailangang pag-aralan mabuti ng gobyerno ‘yan. Mahirap dahil ang kalaban natin ay COVID-19 kaya importante na lahat tayo ay coordinated at siguraduhin na ang pagbubukas ng ilang establishment ay hindi makakadagdag sa mga kaso,” he emphasized.
According to Rye, implementing localized lockdown, as well as the continuous coordination of the government and the public in ensuring that safety and health protocols were being observed would further reduce the already declining daily cases of COVID-19.
The UP Octa Research Team, an independent and interdisciplinary research group studying the outbreak in the country, earlier said on Sunday that the curve of COVID-19 infections already flattened, which means the daily case growth rate has declined considerably.
The group explained that from the seven-day average of 4,174 cases three weeks ago, it is now down to at least 3,400.
It was also the research team that announced last month that the country’s COVID-19 curve may flatten by end of August or September. (Alexandria San Juan)
