By Analou De Vera The Department of Health (DOH) on Tuesday reminded the public of the continuous threat of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) transmission as the government announced the easing of community quarantine measures in some areas of the country. Health Assistant Secretary Maria Vergeire (Facebook) “Kailangan manatiling maingat at mapagmatyag. Habang wala pang nadidiskubreng bakuna, lahat tayo ay laging nasa panganib na mahawa sa COVID-19,” Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said in a press briefing Tuesday (May 12). (We need to be careful and vigilant. While no vaccine has yet been discovered, we are all at risk of being infected with COVID-19.) “Kung hindi tayo mag-iingat, maaring magpatupad muli ng enhanced community quarantine o lockdown sa ating mga komunidad,” she added. (If we are not careful, there’s a possibility that enhanced community quarantine or lockdown will be enforced again in our communities.) Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque earlier announced the list of “low-risk areas” that will no longer be subjected to community quarantine measures after May 15, while “moderate risk areas” will be under the general community quarantine. However, the government placed the National Capital Region, Cebu City, and Laguna province under “modified enhanced community quarantine.” Vergeire said there is a possibility that cases of COVID-19 will increase once the lockdown or quarantine measures are lifted or relaxed. “Nakita natin ito sa mga bansang South Korea, Japan, China at Singapore,” she said. (We have seen this in South Korea, Japan, China, and Singapore.) “Sinisiguro ng Kagawaran na gagawin natin ang lahat ng makakaya, kasama ang iba pang ahensya ng pamahalaan at private sector partners, upang mas maging handa at patuloy na mas mapaigting at mapahusay ang ating mga efforts sa testing, isolation, hospital capacity, equipment of manpower, kung sakaling mangyari sa atin ang nangyari sa mga bansang aking nabanggit,” she added. (The Department gives the assurance it will do all it can, together with other government agencies and private sector partners, to be better prepared and continue to enhance and improve our efforts in testing, isolation, hospital capacity, and equipment of manpower, in the event that it happens to us what occurred in the countries I mentioned.) To prevent further infections, the Health official reminded the public to be vigilant and observe all the minimum health standards. Minimum health standards include the wearing of masks, physical distancing, observing cough etiquette, and maintaining personal hygiene, among others. “The DOH emphasizes the importance of embracing the ‘New Normal’ setting in their everyday lives. The public needs to keep in mind that their practices and behaviors should lead to improved health,” the DOH said.