MORE than 80,000 individuals were caught by the police for various violations during the first week of the implementation of the Alert Level 4 quarantine classification in the National Capital Region (NCR).
From September 16 to 22, the PNP said 57,375 were accosted for violation of minimum public health standards, including the wearing of face mask, face shield, and observance of physical distancing.
The police also apprehended 22,158 for curfew violation, while 1,071 were arrested for going out of their homes even if they are not included in the list of Authorized Persons Outside Residence (APORs).
The PNP said 41,243 (51 percent) of the violators were merely warned; 34,635 (43 percent) were fined; and 4,726 (six percent) were brought to police stations for filing of charges.
“During the past one week, September 16 to 22, seven days of Alert Level 4 in Metro Manila, our police have accosted 80,604 violators, averaging 11,515 every day,” said PNP chief Gen. Guillermo Eleazar.
President Duterte has placed Metro Manila, the epicenter of the COVID-19 pandemic in the country, under Alert Level 4 from September 16 until 30 to contain the fast spread of COVID-19 in the region, especially cases of the Delta variant origin.
Alert Level 4, which allows the operation of more business establishment, is being implementing hand in hand with the granular lockdown of areas where there are confirmed cases.
Eleazar said the PNP will remain vigilant in implementing health protocols which are in place to control the transmission of the coronavirus.
At the same time, Eleazar said 184 areas in the NCR are under granular lockdowns as of last Wednesday. The number is higher by 46 compared to the previous day.
Eleazar said 164 of the locked down areas are streets and houses located in 74 barangays in nine local government units.
Interior undersecretary for operations Epimaco Densing III said he has already told provincial governors to prepare for the implementation in their areas of the new scheme.
“I spoke during an assembly of the League of Provincial Government and I mentioned to them to prepare and understand this alert level system. They are open,” said Densing in a radio interview.
Densing did not say when the alert level system will be implemented outside the NCR. Local government units outside the region are still using the old community quarantine classification.
Densing said he thinks not all provinces and highly urbanized cities outside Metro Manila are ready for the alert level system.
“We are not yet seeing a possibility of a nationwide alert system. That still depends on the assessment next week, but our initial assessment is it may be pilot provinces, pilot highly urbanized cities,” he said.
Last week, National Task Force (NTF) against COVID-19 spokesperson Restituto Padilla said the Alert Level 4 in NCR may be extended by two more weeks.
Presidential spokesman Harry Roque said the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) will amend the current minimum health protocols to make it in line with the decision of President Duterte to allow the use of face shields only in areas where the 3Cs — close and crowded areas and close contact — are present.
“We expect the IATF to amend the guidelines that are affected by the directive of the President,” Roque said.
The President on Wednesday night said health experts have recommended that face shields should no longer be used outdoors, as well as in indoor establishments, transportation services, mass gatherings, and other activities that promote close contact with other individuals.
He said the Technical Advisory Group (TAG) recommended that the use of face shields be limited in areas and activities that are considered “high risk” such as those under the 3Cs.
Duterte reiterated that he still believes that despite the inconvenience of wearing a face shield, it is miniscule compared to the added protection that it offers against COVID-19, especially against the deadly Delta variant. — With Jocelyn Montemayor
