Dr. Alethea de Guzman Director of the Bureau of Epidemiology Department of Health (DOH) said in a Malacanang press briefing on Monday, March 29 that the surge is caused by a combination of factors aggravated by the presence of variants that are highly transmittable.

“The breaches in the minimum public health standards (MPHS), and in the Prevent-Detect-Isolate-Treat-Reintegrate strategies, increased mobility, and the decreased capacity for early detection, are all contributory to the surge,” De Guzman added.

De Guzman Pointed out that the increase Enhances Community Quarantine (ECQ) aims to slow down the cases, stop the spread of new variants, allow the health system to recover, and enhance the application of response and protocols to protect more lives.

“Local government Units have done their part,” said De Guzman immediately by imposing lockdown and fast-tracking vaccination.  She also added that LGU’s response, individuals should also do their part by cooperating.

Dr. Eva Maria Cutiongco-De la Paz, Executive Director of the National Institute of Health in UP Manila said in the briefing that new variants are highly transmittable. She also highlighted that sticking to minimum public health standards and immediate detection of cases, enhanced contact tracing, and isolation will prevent transmission.

Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said in his statement that the conduct of counterpart vaccination of priority A1 to A3 is part of the government’s strategy to suppress the increasing Covid 19 cases.