Church leaders in the Philippines reminded the public to avoid complacency despite the initial relaxation of quarantine in protocols.
Father Dan Vicente Cancino, executive secretary of the Episcopal Commission on Health Care of the bishops’ conference, said the public must maintain “awareness and knowledge of the minimum health standards” to combat the pandemic.
“Whatever (pandemic) wave we have, it is important that we remain vigilant to what is happening because it is the virus that we are fighting,” he said.
Varying claims of government officials on whether the country is on the first or second wave of the pandemic have drawn reactions from the public.
Father Cancino, however, said it does not matter even if the government lifts all restrictions “because the virus is still there.”
The priest, who is also a medical doctor, said Filipinos must continue to practice personal preventive measures such as the use of masks, regular hand washing, and monitoring body condition.
The priest said everyone must always assume that he or she is a “potential asymptomatic carrier” of the virus.
The Philippines has a total of 13,434 confirmed COVID-19 cases with 846 deaths and 3,000 people who recovered from the disease as of May 21.
