To prevent an increase in the number of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases, Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte will tap citizens in reporting establishments that violate the minimum health standards.
Belmonte believes strict monitoring is a must with more people expected to go out on the streets.
She made the statement after Metro Manila mayors and members of the Inter-Agency Task Force against COVID-19 allowed persons aged 18 to 65 to go outside their homes between 4 a.m. to 12 midnight and shortened curfew hours beginning this week.
“We have to stay vigilant and intensify our monitoring, especially on the establishments being frequented by many people. The key to prevent a spike in cases is to ramp up our surveillance and enforcement efforts, and this is where we need the help of QCitizens because our frontliners can only do so much,” she said.
“That’s why we need help from all to report those not complying with the protocols to stop the spread of COVID-19,” Belmonte added.
She said the city government will open a link on its official website where residents can report violators.
“Our successful efforts would just be put into waste should COVID-19 cases go up,” she noted.
The city recently reported that 90 percent of its confirmed COVID-19 cases have recovered, while its reproduction number is now at 0.67, which is closer to the World health Organization ideal number of 0.50.
Apart from planning to open the economy, the city is also finalizing a more relaxed community quarantine guidelines, in accordance with the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases’ directives and regulations.