LGUs must strictly enforce Covid-19 health protocols: Lorenzana

FILE: Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Delfin Lorenzana (PNA photo by Joey O. Razon)

MANILA – Local government units (LGUs) need to strictly implement health protocols on the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) to prevent its spread, Defense Secretary and National Task Force against Covid-19 chairperson Delfin Lorenzana said Monday.

“Kailangan sana ‘yung mga LGUs ay, they will strictly implement ‘yung mga health protocols natin, kasi konting pagkakamali lang diyan ay ang laki ng epekto nitong pagkalat ng Covid-19 (There is a pressing need for LGUs to strictly implement our health protocols. It’s because a small mistake can greatly affect the spread of Covid-19),” Lorenzana said in a media interview on the sidelines of the turnover of 45 high-flow nasal cannula (HFNC) machines by San Miguel Corporation to the Department of Health and Office of Civil Defense (OCD) in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City on Monday.

He was responding to questions on whether they are constantly assessing the country’s Covid-19 cases.

“Ia-assess namin kung ano ang mga development sa mga iba-ibang lugar, yung mga epicenters ba, yung maraming lumitaw, Manila, Cebu at saka yung ibang lugar (We will assess the developments on various areas, the epicenters, where many cases were recorded. This includes Manila, Cebu and other areas) so we will decide later on kung ano ang gagawin ng IATF (Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases) na (recommendation) kay (on what recommendation will the IATF submit to) President (Rodrigo R. Duterte),” Lorenzana said.

He added that the government has sufficient stocks of personal protective equipment (PPE) sets.

“Marami pang darating na PPE (sets) so wala tayong problema sa medical supplies, marami tayong nakaimbak dito sa OCD at kung sino man ang nangangailangan (There are more PPE sets to arrive so we have no problem with medical supplies. We have many stocks here at the OCD and whoever needs them) we can deliver immediately either by land or by air through our military transport,” Lorenzana said.

SMC earlier turned over five HFNC machines to the Philippine General Hospital in Manila and another five to the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center in Cebu.