PASAY CITY -- Senator Christopher “Bong” Go reminded Filipinos to keep their guard up even as the country’s daily COVID-19 cases fell for the fifth day in a row. The Department of Health logged 15,789 new cases on January 26, its lowest single-day tally since recording more than 20,000 to 30,000 daily new cases weeks earlier.

“Sa ating mga kababayan, patuloy rin dapat ang ating ibayong pag-iingat... Maaga pang sabihin na pababa na ang trend ng mga bagong kaso ngunit sana’y hindi na makakaapekto pa ang Omicron variant lalo na’t halos kalahati na ng ating populasyon ay bakunado na,” Go said.

“Ipinapaalala ko rin sa lahat ang ating patuloy na pakikiisa sa mga hakbang ng gobyerno. Palaging sundin ang mga itinakdang health protocols bilang proteksyon sa sarili at sa ating mga mahal sa buhay,” he reminded.

While welcoming the development, Go warned against being complacent as it is still too early to conclude a downward trend in the number of new cases everyday.

“Huwag tayong magkumpiyansa dahil andiyan pa ang banta ng kalabang hindi nakikita, kasama na riyan ang mga bagong variant at sub-variant ng COVID-19,” he said.

As Chair of the Senate Committee on Health, the lawmaker urged the public anew to keep following the health and safety protocols to prevent more infections, especially as new variants and sub-variants of COVID-19 continue to emerge. He also reiterated the importance of getting vaccinated to reduce the risk of developing severe symptoms, hospitalization and death due to the virus.

“Patuloy ang aking panawagan sa mga kuwalipikadong mamamayan natin na magpabakuna na. Mas maraming mababakunahan, mas maraming Pilipino ang mabibigyan ng proteksyon mula sa mas malalang epekto ng COVID-19 at maging kamatayan,” appealed the senator.

“Mas mabilis rin nating mapapalakas muli ang ekonomiya kung magiging disiplinado tayo tungo sa ating pagbalik sa normal na pamumuhay,” he added.

To improve the vaccination coverage, the government intensified its booster vaccination efforts. More than 6.9 booster shots have been administered nationwide, as of January 26. It also recently announced that it will supply more partner drug stores with COVID-19 vaccines and train new individuals who will serve as vaccinators, as part of the Resbakuna sa Botika program.

The senator issued an appeal to concerned authorities on January 24 to look into the possibility of giving an incentive similar to those provided to healthcare workers to pharmacists who are serving as volunteer vaccinators.

Meanwhile, the government simplified its vaccination process by permitting walk-in admissions and dropping the medical clearance requirement. Local government units may now conduct house visits and administer shots to senior citizens and persons with comorbidities who have difficulty going to vaccination sites.

According to health authorities, the government has administered a total of 125.1 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines, as of January 26. Of this figure, 60.1 million Filipinos have received their first dose while 58.1 million are fully vaccinated. The country has obtained a total of 216.5 million doses.

“Naniniwala ako na sa ating pagtutulungan, pagmamalasakit sa kapwa, at pakikiisa sa bayanihan, malalampasan natin ang mga pagsubok na ito at maipagpapatuloy ang pag-unlad ng ating bansa,” Go said. (OSBG)