CALABARZON COMMUNITIES WITH HIGH COVID CASES GETS FREE FACE MASKS

Press Release/March 18, 2020

A total of 15,500 disposable face masks were distributed today in communities were high numbers of Covid-19 cases were recorded in CALABARZON (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, Quezon).

The Department of Health (DOH) – CALABARZON acting through President Rodrigo R. Duterte’s directive last Monday to provide free masks to the public, targeting the underprivileged, has immediately purchased and distributed more than 300 boxes of face mask in Rizal and Quezon Provinces.

Each box contains 50 pieces of face masks received by the barangay officials of various communities.

Regional Director Eduardo C. Janairo stated that the observation of the President on wearing of the same face mask is very common, and the reason is mainly financial. “Karamihan sa mga kababayan natin hindi maka-afford bumili ng adequate supply ng mask. Mas pipiliin pa nilang ibili ito ng pagkain dahil kapos sa pera,”

The regional office today visited barangays in Antipolo City to distribute the free facemask. Some 200 washable facemasks were also given during today’s distribution activity.

“With the free face mask, makakatulong ito at may magagamit na and mga tao and there is no reason for them not to comply with the minimum health protocol of wearing a facemask. We can expect cases to lessen if this simple practice is followed religiously. And we count on the support of the local government units in implementing this.”

Among the barangays with highest number of covid-19 cases recorded are Mayamot, San Roque, San Isidro, Dela Paz in Antipolo; Rizaliana, Bagong Bayan and Pulo in Mauban, Quezon; Gulang-Gulang, Ibabang Dupay, Isabang, Ibabang Iyam and Cota in Lucena City, Quezon; San Isidro, Sto. Domingo, San Andres, San Juan, San Roque. Sto. Niño, Sta. Rosa in Cainta, Rizal.

As of March 17, 2021, a total number of 83,673 covid 19 cases were recorded, 5,939 are active cases with 75,338 recoveries and 2, 396 deaths. CALABARZON is the second region in the country with most number of Covid-19 cases.

The country is presently experiencing the highest recorded number of COVID-19 cases and the first case of the Covid variant first found in Brazil.

Barangay official of Dela Paz, Antipolo City receives the free face masks from a staff of DOH-CALABARZON while a Barangay official of San Isidro also in Antipolo City immediately distributes the face masks to residents during today's face masks distribution activity.