Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 25) — The Department of Health sees no need yet to impose stricter physical distancing protocols in mass transportation despite the increasing number of COVID-19 cases with the more transmissible variant detected in the country.
DOH spokesperson Maria Rosario Vergeire on Monday said transport personnel and commuters need to ensure adherence to minimum health standards such as wearing of face masks and shields, and avoid eating or talking while inside buses, jeepneys, and trains.
“Hindi naman kailangan na agad-agad tayong magkaroon ng stricter protocols ulit… Enforcement and strict compliance to these differrent protocols would be the key. Hindi natin kailangan isarado ulit ang iba’t-ibang sektor ng ating lipunan kung atin lang masusunod ang protocols na meron na tayo,” she said in a media briefing.
[Translation: We don’t need to impose stricter protocols right away. We don’t need to close down sectors if we can follow our existing protocols.]
The DOH, however, said they will continue to monitor the trend of cases to see if the protocols in public transport need to be updated. The country has recorded at least 17 cases of the COVID-19 variant first found in the United Kingdom. The B.1.1.7 SARS-CoV-2 variant is believed to be between 30 to 70% more contagious than the previous ones. UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson said they have been informed that this variant may be more lethal.
