THE PUBLIC Safety and Security Command Center (PSSCC), has reminded Davaoeños anew to follow the minimum health standards protocols after hundreds more were caught violating the protocols, such as social distancing and wearing of face masks.
PSSCC head Angel Sumagaysay bared that 331 were given citations from Dec, 13 to Dec. 20. This increased the number of total violators to 43,302 from 42,972 from May 16, 2020, to December 12 this year.
Face mask violators also surged by 536, with a total of 62,076 from Dec. 12 to Dec. 20, 2021.
While some of the city’s COVID-19 restrictions have eased, the PSSCC chief said the basic minimum public health standards (MPHS), which include the wearing of face masks and social distancing, remained in place.
“Dunay isa ka lugar nagtapok-tapok. Very clear ang violation. Dikit-dikit, wala nagahuna-huna nga naa pay virus (There’s one an area where people milled. Their violation was clear. They were very near each other, unmindful that the virus is still very much around),” he told the City Information Office (CIO) in a phone interview.
He hoped that Davaoeños will not be complacent despite the city’s alert level 2 status and continue to adhere to the MPHS.
Sumagaysay ensured the strict implementation of COVID-19 protocols and guidelines amid the Christmas festivities, cautioning the public to observe physical distancing and wear face masks wherever they go.
“Dili mi magduha-duha sa pagdakop sa ilaha. Holiday na, wala pa kay sapi kay pandemic, madakpan ka pa. Makabayad ka og P500 sa first offense (We won’t hesitate on arresting violators. It’s holiday, you don’t have money because of the pandemic, and you get caught. You will have to pay P500 for the first offense),” he added.
He also said that the city’s hospitals have been vacant for quite some time due to the downtrend in COVID-19 cases. He then urged the public against getting admitted to the hospitals because of coronavirus infection.
Even fully vaccinated individuals can be infected, which is why Davaoeños should not let their guards down, he added.
Sumagaysay said, “Ato nalang i-maintain na bakante pirmi ang hospital. Unpredictable ang sakit, it’s not a guarantee na you won’t be contaminated (Let’s just keep the hospitals vacant. The coronavirus disease is unpredictable, it’s not a guarantee that you won’t be contaminated).”
Davao City continues to enjoy a low positivity rate amid the alert level 2 status. No COVID-19 case was also recorded in the city as of December 19, 2021.
