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Manila Bulletin

Philippines

MECQ will give healthcare workers 'breathing space' -- doctors' group

Philippines

MECQ will give healthcare workers 'breathing space' -- doctors' group

By Gabriela Baron

The reversion of Mega Manila to the modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) will give overworked healthcare workers a "breathing space" as the number of COVID-19 cases in the country continue to swell, the Philippine Heart Association (PHA) said on Monday (Aug. 3).

(JANSEN ROMERO / MANILA BULLETIN)

In its latest statement, PHA said reverting Metro Manila to a stricter quarantine level will help to "calibrate strategies against COVID-19."

"The 15-day period will give the health authorities and workers breathing space and the opportunity to plan a unified and intensified systematic strategy and an expanded collaboration," the medical group said.

PHA added that regulating the movement of the people will reduce the transmission of the virus.

"To say that the healthcare community is suffering from the COVID-19-induced fatigue syndrome is an understatement. It is toxic and is in a critical condition. It has to get a fresh shot in the arm. It has to be resuscitated. We need to win the battle against COVID-19," it ended.

On Sunday, President Rodrigo Duterte heeded the plea of medical professionals to reimpose stricter lockdown measures in Mega Manila due to the continuous increase of COVID-19 cases under relaxed community quarantine measures.

Metro Manila, Laguna, Cavite, Rizal, and Bulacan will be under MECQ anew from August 4 to 18.

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