THERE will be no scheduled nationwide lockdown this month to contain the spread of the novel coronavirus disease (Covid-19).
Malacañang and the National Task Force (NTF) Against Covid-19 (novel coronavirus disease) issued the clarification amid circulating SMS, which claim the government will be implementing a lockdown from December 23, 2020 to January 3, 2020.
No less than Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque and Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles called the said SMS “fake news.”
NTF spokesperson Restituto Padilla Jr. also belied the message and urged the public to only believe official sources. “Please ensure you verify or ask authorities or trusted organizations about the veracity of such information before believing and passing it around,” Padilla said.
“Let us not be instruments of fake news distribution and help out fellow kababayans,” he added.
Officials of the Department of Health (DOH) and the NTF earlier announced they are anticipating a post-holiday surge in Covid-19 cases as people celebrate the Christmas holidays.
However, aside from banning large scale Christmas parties and caroling as well as reminding people to strictly follow health protocols, the government has not imposed any movement restriction during the Christmas holidays.