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No easing of quarantine protocols this Christmas -- Año

Philippines | National

No easing of quarantine protocols this Christmas -- Año

By Chito Chavez

Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Eduardo Año expressed fear on Sunday that easing quarantine protocols this holiday season will result in the spike of COVID-19 cases.

DILG Secretary Eduardo Año
(NTF AGAINST COVID-19 / FILE PHOTO / MANILA BULLETIN)

He cited the case in Europe where there was a second wave of the pandemic which he described as far worse than the initial one.

“Sa Britain, halimbawa maglalock down sila aabut hanggang Marso next year yung lockdown nila kasi umaabot sila nang matataas (In Britain for instance they will have a lockdown up to March next year. They reached a high number (COVID-19 cases),’’ Año said in an interview over DZBB.

Año noted that last week, Secretary Carlito Galvez, chief implementer of the National Action Plan Against COVID-19, confirmed that the Metro Manila mayors have agreed that the region be placed under the general community quarantine (GCQ) until the end of December which will be recommended to the President on November 30.

While talks have been made by the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) members, Año said that they will still have to further consult the Metro Manila mayors.

“Syempre kailangan pakinggan din natin yung kanilang opinyon at ang kanilang rekomendasyon (Of course, we need to hear their (Metro Manila mayors) opinions and recommendations,’’ he added.

He added that the Metro Manila mayors have issued their respective ordinances regarding the ban on mass gatherings during the Yuletide Season which includes carolling which the IATF had affirmed.

Año revealed that the primary cause in the spike of COVID-19 cases in Italy is the numerous choir performances in many parts of the country.

“Meron akong pamangkin na madre nandun sa Rome (Rome) ano dun sa Vatican, halos entire sila nahawa sila, member siya ng choir (I have a niece who is a nun in Rome in the Vatican. Almost all of them were infected. She is a member of the choir),’’ Año narrated.

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