PANGASINAN continues to have the lowest number of COVID-19 cases compared to other provinces but communities in the province should continue to be more cautious in their exposures in public places today under the relaxed guidelines of the General Community Quarantine.

This warning was echoed by P/Colonel Redrico A. Maranan, Pangasinan Police director, in an exclusive PUNCH interview.

Maranan said since new guidelines of GCQ have allowed malls to open, public transport allowed to operate, there should be more consciousness on the part of the public to observe both social and physical distancing and curfew hours under the given restrictions.

He noted that since GCQ went into effect last week, more than 500 persons were already arrested for not wearing masks, breaking social distancing and curfew hours.

He said efforts must be sustained to comply with new restrictions, i.e., 50% of its capacity in public transport and prohibition of backriders on motorcycles, reduced capacity for food establishments to promote social distancing, etc.

Maranan reminded persons that only those with employment IDs can be considered authorized person outside the residence (APOR) and persons who need to purchase necessities or medicine will still need to have quarantine pass.

He said the implementation of the restrictions will still require continued random checks by barangay officials, assisted by the PNP’s monitoring and support units.

More importantly, Maranan said since there is still no vaccine for COVID-19 and carriers are normally asymptomatic, public should be wary about leaving their homes when not necessary.

Compared to other provinces, Pangasinan has recorded the lowest COVID cases with 41 while Cebu has 1,550 covid cases; Rizal, 424; Laguna, 414; Cavite, 317; Davao City, 177; Bulacan, 151; Batangas, 145; Pampanga, 62; Nueva Ecija, 51;  and Quezon province 47, it should not be an occasion to be complacent, echoing the call of the provincial health office.

“Strict implementation of quarantine guidelines being implemented in the province has been the key to why Pangasinan has the lowest COVID positive cases, and therefore, should continue,” Maranan said. (Nora Dominguez)

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