The Philippines on Monday tallied 37,070 new COVID-19 infections, as the "no vaccination, no ride" policy took effect in Metro Manila in an effort to curb an ongoing surge in cases.
The day's tally brought active cases to 290,938, with a total of 33,940 new recoveries and 23 new deaths reported.
Overall, a total of 3,242,374 COVID-19 cases have been reported since the pandemic began in March 2020, of which 2,898,507 have recovered and 52,929 died.
The "no vaccination, no ride" policy is implemented under Alert Level 3 or higher in the capital region, covering travel by land, rail, sea, and air. Filipinos outside Metro Manila looking to enter for work and travel will also be required to present proof of vaccination.
Passengers must present physical or digital copies of their vaccine cards, vaccination certificates from the Department of Health, or any government-prescribed document along with a valid government-issued ID with picture and address to public transport operators.
The following commuters are exempted from the "no vaccination, no ride" policy:
- Persons with medical conditions preventing them from getting fully-inoculated as long as they present a duly-signed medical certificate with the doctor's name and contact details
- Persons who will buy essential goods and services, such as but not limited to food, water, medicines, medical services, public utilities, energy, work, and medical and dental necessities as long as they present a barangay health pass or other proof to justify travel.
The Department of Transportation defended the new policy, saying that it was meant to protect the public and avoid a shutdown of public transportation during the latest COVID-19 surge.
"We believe that it is more anti-poor and anti-life if we will not impose interventions that will prevent loss of life due to non-vaccinations," it said.
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