Gov’t to create ‘new normal’ roadmap against COVID-19 crisis

As the Philippines continues to combat the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the national government is maximizing its efforts to keep the number of infections in control and the economic status of the country safe from plummeting.

In order to face the new normal better amid the pandemic crisis, the officials are developing a strategic roadmap to the new normal in order for the country to start beating the COVID-19 pandemic.

In President Rodrigo Duterte’s Talk to the People on Monday night, Presidential adviser on COVID-19 response Vince Dizon said they are now in talks with key officials of the National Task Force (NTF) against COVID-19, which includes NTF chief Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr., Department of Health (DOH) Secretary Francisco Duque III, and NTF chairperson Delfin Lorenzana, regarding the development of the new normal roadmap, which will serve as a way forward to deal with the virus, and end the pandemic crisis.

Moreover, Dizon said the NTF aims to decrease the active COVID-19 cases to numbers similar to that of the time before the proliferation of Omicron, with records less than 1,000 infections daily for this month.

“We strive to bring down cases, especially within this month. While we are doing that, we will also start to develop and mapping out a road to the new normal,” he stated.

Dizon added that along with the goal of reducing the number of active COVID-19 infections in the country, they will also continue to augment the vaccination programs across the country, saying that vaccination is really the ‘ultimate solution' to ending the pandemic.

He also said that more than 60 million Filipinos are now fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

Additionally, the presidential adviser said the government aims to give complete doses of the COVID-19 vaccine to at least 90 million Filipinos by the end of President Duterte’s term in June 2022.

“We will continue to pursue innovative ways to bring the vaccines closer to the Filipinos,” he said.

Dizon added that more pharmacies across the country will soon participate in the government’s “Resbakuna sa Botika” vaccination drive.

Various clinics, schools, and other establishments will also open for vaccination.

The COVID-19 vaccination program for the younger population, particularly children aged 5 to 11, has already commenced on Monday, February 7, 2022.