DAYS after photos of another top government official went viral over a densely crowded gathering seen violating the minimum public health safety protocols, a former health secretary advised top government officials to be role models instead of being “pasaway.”
In a television interview on Monday, former Health Secretary Paulyn Ubial said that continued defiance of the health protocols could reverse the progress of stopping the pandemic.
Ubial said these incidents had led some people to feel the health crisis was over, which had so far infected over 430,000 Filipinos and resulted in the death of 8,333 others.
“I think the government, especially the Department of Health (DOH), has to remind our top officials about maintaining the health protocols,” she said, “and making sure that they show this as an example to the public that they are the role models that the public will follow.”
Ubial was apparently referring to President Rodrigo Duterte’s spokesperson Harry Roque and Sen. Manny Pacquiao who both drew flak for attending mass gatherings last week.
Roque went to Bantayan Island in Cebu to help promote tourism while Pacquiao went to Batangas to distribute relief goods. Both events supposedly violated physical distancing protocols.
Ubial, who now leads the molecular laboratory of the Philippine Red Cross, also refuted Roque’s statement that “general compliance” of COVID-19 protocols was met as the crowd wore masks despite not observing physical distancing. The event was also held outdoors, he added.
The virus can still spread through physical contact and if people do not wear their masks properly, she said.
“The chances of viral survival when it’s open air is lower but it doesn’t mean it doesn’t happen,” Ubial added.
Roque has yet to issue his statement over Ubial’s remarks.
Ubial also recommended maintaining the general community quarantine (GCQ) status in high-risk areas such as Metro Manila.
“I think that’s the more prudent way to go especially the number of cases are not really that low. There’s still a possibility of spiking because of the current high number of cases,” she said.
The Philippines employs a 4-level community quarantine scheme ranging from the strictest enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) to the most relaxed modified general community quarantine or MGCQ. The quarantine level dictates the type of business activities allowed in a certain area, as well as travel restrictions.
The national capital region has been under GCQ since August, with stricter lockdowns enforced in earlier months as COVID-19 infections rose. Select businesses are allowed to operate at full capacity in GCQ areas.