
MANILA – The Philippine National Police (PNP) warned on Sunday that officers on the front lines will continue to carefully enforce health regulations to avoid the spread of the Covid-19 Delta strain, which is more transmissible.
PNP chief Gen. Guillermo Eleazar gave this statement after Department of Health (DOH) cautioned that patients infected with the Delta version are more likely to stay in hospitals longer than those infected with the other variants.
“Nabanggit po ng DOH na kailangan ng mahigpit na border controls para hindi na madagdagan pa ang may Covid-19 Delta variant sa bansa (The DOH mentioned the need for strict border controls to prevent transmission of Covid-19 Delta variant in the country),” Eleazar said.
The World Health Organization also issued a warning that Delta variant is turning into a globally dominant variant of the disease.
“Makaaasa ang ating mga kababayan na patuloy po kaming magbabantay sa mga quarantine control points, lalo na sa mga lugar kung saan may mataas na bilang ng mga kaso ng Covid-19 (We will continue to monitor the quarantine control points, especially in areas where there is a high number of Covid-19 cases),” Eleazar said in a remark.
Eleazar urged the people to be more cautious and follow basic health regulations in order to prevent the spread of the Delta variant.
“Kami sa PNP ay naniniwala na kailangang lahat ay kumilos para mapigilan ang pagkalat ng mas nakahahawang variant na ito. Bukod sa bakuna at pagsunod sa minimum public health safety standards, disiplina po ang kailangan ng bawat isa sa atin (We at the PNP believe that everyone must take action to prevent the spread of this more contagious variant. Apart from vaccinations and adherence to minimum public health safety standards, each of us needs discipline),” Eleazar said.
He mandated that all local police offices and units closely collaborate with the various local government units to ensure that the minimum public health safety standards and quarantine protocols are strictly enforced.
According to DOH Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire, Delta variant “really spreads easily.”
Delta variant infections have stronger inflammatory markers, indicating that the virus is causing severe infection, as per preliminary global investigations.
However, according to Vergeire, the Delta variant should not be a cause for panic if health protocols are followed.