President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday called on the public to keep obeying health protocols against COVID-19 as the country appeared set to flatten the curve after six months of quarantine.
The Philippines on Monday confirmed 1,383 coronavirus infections, among the lowest single-day tallies in weeks. Johns Hopkins University in the U.S. said cases are going down based on the five-day moving average.
The virus "is there, floating around us," Duterte said in his weekly address to the nation that was aired on Facebook. People should continue wearing face masks, washing their hands and observing physical distancing, he said.
Two areas, however, will be placed under MECQ, the second highest quarantine: Bacolod City and Lanao del Sur, from Sept 8. to 30., joining Iligan City, officials said.
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"The key to winning the war against COVID is the resolve," Duterte said.
"Malaking tulong yun kasi, kakaunti lang ang tao na naglalakad, magko-contaminate ng iba. Yung iba naman umiiwas so there were less COVID people and less people going around," he said.
The head of the National Task Force against COVID-19, Defense Sec. Delfin Lorenzana, earlier said the curve could be flattened by the end of this month and Metro Manila could eventually shift to the lowest quarantine, MGCQ.
