MANILA – The Department of Health (DOH) welcomed the results of the recent Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey on face mask use, saying that Filipinos have already adopted a “good health behavior” in protecting themselves against Covid-19.
Based on the recent SWS survey, 91 percent of Filipinos approved the issuance last year of Executive Order (EO) No. 7 that allows the optional use of face masks in indoor and outdoor settings. However, more than half of Filipinos said that they will still use a face mask when leaving their house.
“Ito po ay isang magandang balita para sa ating bansa at kababayan (This is good news for our country and citizens),” said Vergeire during a press briefing on Tuesday, March 28.
“Ibig sabihin ng survey na ito, pinapakita na ang bawat Pilipino na imbibed na po yung good health behavior kung saan alam na nila kung paano poprotesyunan ang sarili (This survey means that every Filipino has already imbibed the good health behavior wherein they already know how to protect themselves),” she added.
Vergeire expressed hopes that Filipinos will continue to exhibit good health behavior to protect themselves against Covid-19 and other diseases in the country.
Covid-19 situation
Meanwhile, the DOH has monitored a slight increase in the number of daily cases but noted that the country’s Covid-19 situation remains manageable.
Vergeire said that the average daily cases for the period of March 21 to 27 was at 207. This was slightly higher compared to 156 average daily cases for the period of March 14 to 20.
There is no reason to implement strict restrictions as of the moment, said Vergeire.
“Like what we always say, nakikita natin na may mga kaunting pagtaas sa bawat lugar but it is not significant for us to say na kailangan na uli natin ng restrictions (we are seeing slight increases in each area but it is not significant for us to say that we need to impose restrictions again),” she said.
The number of hospital admission as well as the severe and critical cases remain at a manageable level, said Vergeire.
“As of now, this kind of increase and decrease in the number of cases expected iyan (is expected) because the virus is still here and makikita pa rin natin iyan (we will continue to see cases) because the virus is here to stay,” she said.
“What would be most important would be alam ng tao ano ang nangyayari, alam nila kung ano ang gagawin para proteksyunan ang kanilang sarili (that people know what is happening, they know what to do to protect themselves),” she added.
