PNP eyes stricter health protocols

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine National Police (PNP) yesterday beefed up police visibility in public places in Metro Manila following the recent spike in COVID-19 cases as the police prepare for strictermeasures to curb the spread of the virus.

Police sources said more officers were deployed on the streets and checkpoints were set up in some boundaries of adjacent towns in preparation for the possible re-imposition of stricter restrictions if COVID-19 cases continue to rise during the Christmas holidays.

Sources said the order came from top police officials after the Department of Health recorded

over 2,200 new COVID-19 cases on Friday, the highest in more than a month.

“We were told to deploy more troops and be ready in the event the daily average of COVID-19 cases would breach 3,000,” the source said.

The police official said stricter measures similar to a modified enhanced community quarantine could be implemented.

These include the closure again of shopping malls except for stores selling food and other essential goods.

They were also instructed to start putting up checkpoints in strategic boundaries between cities in Metro Manila.

Another police commander said they are also taking photographs of commercial establishments where social distancing protocols and other health and safety measures are no longer being observed.

“We need to do this because people seems to be relaxing,” the source said.

PNP deputy chief for operations Lt. Gen. Cesar Binag said yesterday the police have also deployed inspection teams in Metro Manila and other parts of the country to conduct a risk assessment on the compliance of shopping malls, markets and other public places in the implementation of safety guidelines.

They would observe if people are still following the measures imposed by the government such as wearing face masks and face shields and strictly observing physical distancing in public places.

Binag said they are assessing whether there is a need for stricter health and safety protocols but refused to go into details on what new measures they might impose with the assessment still ongoing.

The Department of Health on Friday documented 2,122 new COVID-19 cases, the highest in more than a month.

Binag inspected several commercial establishments in Metro Manila and the adjacent provinces of Bulacan and Rizal.

At a major Quezon City mall, Binag observed that the shopping mall’s food court was overcrowded and social distancing measures no longer being observed.

He told radio station dzBB. the highest risks are in food courts.

Asked to comment on rumors that Quezon City would be placed under a stricter quarantine status, Binag said during the radio interview they intend to make an “objective assessment” and that any changes in quarantine status would come from the local government unit and not from the police.

Children

National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) chief Brig. Gen. Vicente Danao Jr. reminded parents that children are still barred from entering shopping malls during the Christmas season as COVID-19 continues to threaten public health.

“The pandemic is not yet over and COVID-19 virus is still everywhere, therefore I would like to reiterate to our public that minors are still restricted inside Metro Manila malls as agreed upon by the Metro Manila local governments,” Danao said yesterday.

He said police visibility would be increased to make sure children would not enter malls, aside from ensuring that the public would follow minimum public health standards like wearing face mask and face shield and physical distancing while inside malls or other crowded areas.

At least 10,000 policemen would be deployed around Metro Manila to enforce health and safety protocols against COVID-19, he said.

Danao maintained that the ban on children inside malls would protect children from COVID-19 since “the health and safety of our children is our primordial concern.”

He also called on parents to avoid bringing their children to malls and instead encourage them to stay at home by putting up Christmas decorations, story-telling, writing Christmas cards, playing games and singing Christmas carols.

Previously, the Metro Manila Council that is composed of the 17 mayors in Metro Manila had planned to allow minors inside malls as long as their parents accompany them.

However, the council changed their plan after they were warned by health experts that when children  catch COVID-19, they could pass the virus to elderly household members, causing a possible spike in infections during the holidays. — Ghio Ong