As the number of cases in the country continues to rise day by day, Filipinos should be extra wary as to how they can protect their health and the people around them. While wearing face masks and washing hands regularly are highly encouraged, they should put in mind that disinfecting house and work spaces must also be of their top priority.

Recently, Lysol Philippines has partnered with the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) for the "Disinfect to Protect," a joint mission to ensure that everybody is protected from illnesses by breaking the chain of infection in the country.

Through this endeavor, the disinfectant brand donated P36 million to boost the expanded targeted testing in support of government efforts, bring it to the most vulnerable groups, and encourage Filipinos to sanitize their surroundings to protect themselves from disease-causing germs.

"We feel humbled to be partnering with the Philippine Red Cross in their efforts to strengthen the country's testing capacity and expand its coverage to the needy sectors of society, as we keep the Philippines' medical frontliners safe against an unseen enemy while creating awareness on the importance of hygiene and disinfection," said Gonzalo Balcazar, RB General Manager for South East Asia, Hygiene.

Half of the donation will be used to build a testing center in Cagayan de Oro City that will be known as the Philippine Red Cross Molecular Laboratory. It is said to house two polymerase chain reaction machines that can process more than one thousand tests per day. Part of Lysol's contribution will also be earmarked for the facility's operations and maintenance costs, including hiring of personnel.

The other half of the donation—P18 million—will go to the Samaritan Fund to shoulder processing fees to test around 4,500 Filipinos from the most susceptible groups such as the elderly, pregnant women, and those with pre-existing health conditions, especially in poor communities.

Lysol will also turn over P5 million-worth of its products to help disinfect PRC sample collection areas, as well as testing laboratories, to help keep frontline healthcare workers and communities protected against the disease.

"We welcome Lysol as our partner in helping control the spread of [the disease]. They are a company who has invested most of their resources in studying pathogens and developing solutions that can kill these. They know what we are up against, and how we can stop the infection," said Senator Richard Gordon, Chairman of Philippine Red Cross.

To break the chain of infection in the household and office level, Lysol also encourages Filipinos to practice proper handwashing, and regular cleaning and disinfecting their surroundings—including frequently-touched surfaces—with disinfectant sprays and multi-purpose cleaners.

"More than ensuring households are protected from illness-causing germs, Lysol sees this partnership and our Disinfect to Protect mission as creating a bigger impact on various communities," Balcazar added.

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To know more about the Disinfect to Protect mission, visit the Facebook pages of Lysol Philippines and Philippine Red Cross.