Residents in GCQ areas urged to embrace new normal amid COVID-19

The Department of Health (DOH) urged the public to embrace the new normal amid the COVID-19 pandemic as Metro Manila shifts to general community quarantine (GCQ) on Monday. 

DOH Spokesperson Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said it remains unsafe to go outside as the risk of 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) infection remains high. 

“Let's embrace the new normal. Pinapaalala po natin na hindi pa po tapos ang laban sa COVID-19 kahit GCQ na tayo, nandiyan pa rin po ang banta at kailangang maging vigilant at maingat pa rin po tayo (Let us remind you that the fight against COVID-19 is not over. Even under GCQ, the threat is there, so we must remain vigilant and careful),” Vergeire said.

She also said the government will return to enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) status if the number of COVID-19 cases in the metropolis continues to increase.

Vergeire said although the government has yet to flatten the curve of COVID-19 infections there is already a good indication that the government’s response is working.

The DOH has recorded 15,588 confirmed cases of COVID-19 with 539 new cases – the highest single-day increase – as of Thursday afternoon.

Vergeire said the spike in new confirmed cases was due to the aggressive validation process of cases by the DOH.