By Genalyn Kabiling

The government will continue to gradually reopen the economy but people must take health precautions seriously to avoid getting infected with the coronavirus, Malacañang said Monday.

Presidential spokesman Harry Roque said the public must try to stay healthy by observing health precautions such as wearing of face mask and safe physical distancing from other people.

“Well, dapat lang naman po tayong mabahala dito sa COVID-19 habang wala pa pong vaccine, habang wala pa pong gamot. Pero hindi naman po kinakailangan na itigil na natin ang ating mga buhay (We must really be concerned about COVID-19 while there is no vaccine, no cure. But we don’t have to stop our way of life),” Roque said during the “Laging Handa” public briefing on state television.

“Patuloy po tayo ngayong binubuksan na natin ang ekonomiya dahil kinakailangan naman nating buhayin ang ating mga kababayan (We will continue to reopen the economy because we must allow our people to earn a living),” he added.

But as more industries and services are allowed to operate in some quarantine areas, Roque reminded the public to stay vigilant and cooperate with the government’s quarantine rules.

“Kailangan po mag-ingat, magsuot ng face mask, maghugas ng mga kamay, at mag-observe po ng social distancing, at patuloy pong manatiling malusog (We must take precautions, wear face mask, wash hands frequently, and observe social distancing. Let us stay healthy),” he said.

A Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey earlier showed majority of Filipinos are worried that a family member might get sick with the new coronavirus disease. In the mobile phone survey conducted early this month, 87 percent of the respondents are worried that anyone in their immediate family might catch the disease while 13 percent are not worried.

Another survey indicated many Filipinos have taken measures such as wearing of face mask when leaving their homes and observe safe distancing to guard against the coronavirus disease.

The results of the surveys were released less than week before the lapse of the community quarantine imposed by the government across the country. The inter-agency task force is expected to review the situation and make a recommendation to President Duterte on whether or not to lift, relax or extend the lockdown measures by June 1.