Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte said Filipinos should not blame the government if they get sick from the coronavirus if they refuse to follow restrictions, which have been relaxed in a bid to boost the economy.

In a late-night televised address on Monday, Duterte reminded Filipinos to refrain from going on non-essential trips, to follow physical distancing and to wear face masks if they need to go out.

‘We are gradually easing restrictions to make way for our economic viability as individuals and as a nation... but it does not mean that we will forget our minimum health standards,’ he said.

‘I cannot stop you all from going out. I can't arrest everyone,’ he added.

‘If you bring your child when you go out, or you allow your children to go out when the place is not yet ready for them to be outside and they get sick, don't blame us.’  ‘Do not forget that we warned you about the grave consequences,’ Duterte said.

As of Monday, there are 26,420 confirmed Covid-19 cases in the Philippines, including 1,098 deaths, according to the Department of Health.

Stringent quarantine restrictions were implemented in the central city of Cebu from Tuesday to the end of the month after a spike in its Covid-19 cases, presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said.

Relaxed restrictions in the capital of Metro Manila were extended until the end of the month to avoid projections that cases would spike if the protocols were further eased, Roque said.




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