QUEZON CITY, (PIA) – Amidst the rising COVID-19 cases in the city of Manila, Mayor Honey Lacuna required all employees of the local government and other guests to wear face masks while inside the city hall premises starting Monday, May 15.
“Patuloy po ang pagtaas ng kaso ng COVID dito po sa ating lungsod kaya po simula sa araw na ito, ay mahigpit po nating ipatutupad ang pagsuot ng face masks sa loob ng inyong mga tanggapan at sa lahat po ng dadayo sa Manila City Hall (The number of COVID cases continues to increase here in our city that’s why starting today, we will strictly enforce the wearing of face masks inside your offices and to everyone who will visit the Manila City Hall),” said Manila Mayor.
The local chief executive emphasized that the wearing of face masks outside the vicinity of the city hall remains voluntary since this measure is only necessitated by the local government’s aim to prevent the further transmission of the COVID-19 virus.
As of May 17, the City Epidemiology Surveillance Unit (CESU) of Manila has recorded a total of 48 new COVID cases which brings the total number of active cases to 234. This adds to the 125, 724 total confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the city since the pandemic outbreak.
Meanwhile, the Department of Health (DOH) logged 1088 new COVID cases in the country as of May 16, 488 of which were recorded in the National Capital Region (NCR).
The seven-day positivity rate of NCR slightly rose to 25.4% from 22.7% as of May 13, according to the OCTA Research Group.
On the other hand, the recent genome sequencing conducted by the DOH revealed that there are additional three cases of the ‘arcturus' variant in Western Visayas.
However, DOH Officer-in-Charge Dr. Maria Rosario Vergeire reminded the public that there is no linkage identifying the local transmission of the new COVID-19 strain.
“Hindi natin kailangan matakot o mangamba. Tayo po ay magiging protektado pa rin kung tayo ay susunod pa rin sa mga pamantayang pangkalusugan (We need not to be afraid or be worried at all. We will remain to be protected as long as we follow the minimum public health standards),” said Vergeire during a media forum, encouraging the general public to wear face masks and get vaccinated against the virus for immunity. (PIA-NCR)
