Plastic barriers on public transport are useless if physical distancing is not followed, according to a doctor.
According to the president of the Philippine College of Physicians, Dr. Maricar Limpin, these barriers could be the beginning of infection.
“Matagal na naming sinasabi ‘yan. Alisin na ho natin ‘yan kasi yung virus kung dumikit pa nga ho dun sa plastic, tapos mahawakan ho natin, tapos mailagay ho natin sa ilong e ‘di parang mabilisan din ho nating nalanghap yung virus at pwede ho tayong magkaroon kaagad nung infection,” she explained.
“’Yan nga yung palagi naming sinasabi maski noon pa, na yung mga nakikita nating ginagawa sa mga pampublikong sasakyan, yung punuan na na wala namang distansya na, hindi ho natin gusto yan kaya…tingnan ho ninyo, mabilis na nag-surge uli tayo,” she added.
Limpin advised that it would be better to remove plastic barriers and implement physical distancing to vehicles while opening windows for better air circulation.
A passenger should not board if they see a vehicle full.
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Plastic barrier in PUV useless without physical distancing: doctor
But more than that, Limpin called on the government to fix the transportation system in the Philippines.
“Mag-contract servicing ho tayo, yung transport service kasi talagang ang mangyayari ho doon sa mga tao is sa kagustuhan niyang makarating doon sa kanyang pupuntahan, lalong -lalo na kung sa trabaho ano, talagang kapit-tuko ho yan. Talagang gagawin nila kahit magkaroon sila ng COVID-19 basta makapunta lang ho sila sa trabaho nila,” she said.
“Kailangan po ang gobyerno ang gumawa ng paraan. Kasi hindi lang po nating pwedeng payagan ang mga tao na wala ho silang choice eh,” she added.
Meanwhile, according to a group of experts, the number of new COVID-19 cases recorded in the country per day is likely to hit 20,000.
“‘Yong 20,000, mukhang very possible na maabot natin iyan within the next two weeks. 20,000 cases in one day. Itong 17,000 na nakita natin 2 days ago, hindi pa iyan ‘yong pinakamataas, hindi pa iyan ‘yong peak,” said Guido David of the OCTA Research Group, a group of professors conducting the study on COVID-19 data.
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