CEBU CITY—The Department of Health in Central Visayas (DOH 7) has made a recommendation to keep the region under Modified General Community Quarantine (MGCQ) from October 1 to October 30.
“We would be again placed under MGCQ,” Dr. Mary Jean Loreche, spokesperson of DOH 7, said in a media briefing Monday.
Region 7 should retain its MGCQ status for the whole of October since the Inter-Agency Task Force’s assessment covers a 30-day period.
“Because apparently, 15 days are too short for you to be able to see any difference,” said Loreche.
Quarantine qualifications may be changed in other areas if there’s significant increase of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases, she added.
The region continued to log COVID-19 cases in recent DOH 7 bulletins, but the figures were lower compared to that in previous months.
Loreche said the region has already flattened the curve, but the public must remain vigilant.
“Even if we have flattened our curve but, no, we cannot be living the new normal like the previous pre-COVID-19, said Loreche.
Loreche explained that lifting the MGCQ classification may prompt the return of public movement that could lead to a surge of new cases.
“Because if you’re going to remove the restrictions that go along with MGCQ, and everyone is back to normal, the discipline and gains we sustained in flattening the curve will be gone in a single moment and can put us back to face a surge of new cases,” said Loreche.
“MGCQ is the most lenient form of community quarantine and it has allowed us to gradually reopen the economy thus businesses and other sectors are already allowed to operate. For now, if Central Visayas will be placed on MGCQ for the second month, it will be good for us. It gives us more time to slowly adjust to the new normal,” Loreche added.
Loreche said quarantine qualification can only be lifted if the public is already used to complying with the health protocols set out by the government.