Bong Go

Bong Go expresses concern over hike in COVID-19 cases

January 7, 2022 People's Journal 304 views

SENATOR and Chair of the Senate Committee on Health Christopher “Bong” Go renewed his call for continued cooperation and bayanihan among Filipinos to overcome the pandemic in 2022 as he raises concern over the rising COVID-19 cases in the country.

“Nitong Huwebes, nakapagtala ang bansa ng mahigit labimpitong libong bagong kaso ng COVID-19 sa loob lang ng isang araw. Nakababahala ito dahil ito ay napakalaking pagtaas sa bilang kumpara sa ilang daan lang na bagong kaso kada araw noong Disyembre,” noted Go.

The number of COVID-19 cases in the country continues to rise, with the Department of Health reporting 17,220 new infections on January 6.

Go implored Filipinos to continue complying with the government health and quarantine measures and not to risk their fellow Filipinos’ health.

“Huwag na nating sayangin ang naging sakripisyo natin sa nakaraang halos dalawang taon. Konting tiis at patuloy lang tayong makiisa sa gobyerno at magmalasakit sa kapwa. Malalampasan din natin itong pinakabagong hamon bilang isang mas matatag na bansa,” he said.

The senator then appealed to the public anew to remain vigilant against COVID-19 amid the threat of its Omicron variant. He also reminded everyone to adhere to necessary health protocols in a concerted effort to curb the spread of the virus.

“Bilang chair ng Senate Committee on Health, inuulit ko ang aking panawagan sa lahat: bakunado man o hindi, sundin ang lahat ng mga itinakdang health protocols, katulad ng pagsuot ng mask, pag-obserba sa social distancing, palaging paghugas ng kamay at pag-iwas na lumabas ng bahay kung hindi naman kinakailangan,” he reminded.

Meanwhile, Go once again urged those who are already qualified to overcome their doubts and get vaccinated immediately to spare them from risks of possibly having severe symptoms if infected.

“Sa mga hindi pa bakunado pero kwalipikado naman, nakikiusap ako na huwag na kayong mag-aalinlangan pa. Magpabakuna na po kayo dahil mas delikado kung unvaccinated kayo. Iyan ang totoo. Libre naman ang mga ito,” said Go.

“Karamihan sa pinakagrabeng tinamaan at namamatay dahil sa COVID-19 ay hindi bakunado, ayon sa datos ng DOH,” he noted.

The senator mentioned that the majority of COVID-19 patients requiring intensive care in DOH hospitals in the National Capital Region are unvaccinated.

“Ayon sa huling advisory ng DOH, 85% sa mga COVID-19 patients sa mga ospital ng DOH sa Metro Manila na nangangailangan ng intensive care ay mga hindi pa bakunado. Kaya kung naririyan na sa ating harapan ang oportunidad, magpabakuna na tayo,” urged Go.

Nevertheless, Go pointed out that the country’s vaccination program has gone a long way, saying, “Sa katunayan, as of January 5, meron nang kabuuang 210.63 milyong doses ng COVID-19 vaccines ang dumating sa bansa.”

“Merong 110.87 milyong doses naman ang naiturok na kung saan 57.32 milyong Pilipino ang nakatanggap ng kanilang unang dose at merong 51.09 milyon naman ang nakakumpleto na ng required doses. Samantala, merong mahigit 2.46 milyong booster shots ang naibigay na rin sa ating mga kababayan,” he added.

The senator then asked authorities to further intensify the vaccine rollout, noting that due to the spike in new COVID-19 cases, calls to the hospital referral system have doubled.

“Ayon sa mga awtoridad, dumoble ang bilang ng mga tumatawag sa One Hospital Command Center para sa pagpapaospital noong huling linggo ng Disyembre,” said Go.

“Kaya umapela ako sa mga awtoridad na bilisan pa ang pagbabakuna sa lahat ng mga eligible na sektor, lalo na iyong mga itinuturing na ‘poorest of the poor’, mabigyan ng kaukulang proteksyon ang ating mga kwalipikadong mamamayan at tuluyang makabalik na tayo sa normal na pamumuhay oras na makamit natin ang herd immunity,” he added.

Go also urged individuals subjected to isolation and quarantine regulations to put their personal comfort aside for the sake of public health. He emphasized the greater sacrifices that medical frontliners continue to make in order to save lives.

“Sa dami ng namatay na mga medical at economic frontliners natin at sa ilang bilyong pisong nagastos na natin sa ating pandemic response, nagawa pa nilang unahin ang sarili nilang interes kaysa kapakanan ng kapwa nila,” he said.

The senator then repeated his appeal to the Department of Justice and the National Bureau of Investigation to swiftly conduct a probe into possible “syndicates” operating in airports and quarantine facilities allowing individuals to skip quarantine procedures.

“Kung kaya inuulit ko ang aking panawagan sa Department of Justice at National Bureau of Investigation na agarang imbestigahan ang mga ito at silipin kung merong mga sindikatong sangkot dito. Bilang chair ng Senate Committee on Health, hinding-hindi natin palalampasin ito,” Go stressed.

Finally, the senator underscored the need for continued public cooperation as the government cannot beat the pandemic alone.

“Lagi nating alalahanin na hindi kaya ng gobyernong mag-isa ang laban kontra sa pandemya. Kailangan po ang kooperasyon ng bawat isa upang hindi tuluyang lumala ang pagkalat ng Omicron at hindi maging pasanin sa ating frontliners,” said Go.

“Patuloy po tayong magkaisa at magtulungan upang tuluyan na nating malampasan ang pandemya bilang isang mas matatag at nagkakaisang bansa,” he concluded.

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