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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider NCR Plus 'bubble' to have significant effect on COVID-19 transmission in other areas -- OCTA

NCR Plus 'bubble' to have significant effect on COVID-19 transmission in other areas -- OCTA

Published Mar 23, 2021 03:00 pm

The new quarantine setup for Metro Manila and four more provinces will have a significant effect on areas that were not included in the new quarantine setup, an expert from OCTA Research group said Tuesday, March 23.

(JANSEN ROMERO / FILE PHOTO / MANILA BULLETIN)

The national government imposed a stricter general community quarantine (GCQ) in the National Capital Region (NCR), Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna, and Rizal—also known as NCR Plus—from March 22 to April 4.

“In terms of preventing transmission outside NCR Plus, it will have a significant effect,” said Dr. Guido David in an interview over CNN Philippines.

“At least we will not be infecting other provinces which do not have a high case count right now,” he added.

But the research fellow noted that it is a “different story” for Metro Manila, which is currently experiencing a surge in the number of COVID-19 infections.

“Basically, you’re just containing the pandemic inside this bubble, but it will still run inside this bubble,” the research fellow said.

Amid the record-breaking number of new COVID-19 cases in the country recently, the government has imposed strict quarantine measures in select areas with high numbers of infections.

The government has prohibited non-essential travel into and out of NCR Plus for two weeks, as well as mass gathering in a bid to curb the rising number of COVID-19 cases.

David said he is hoping to see a “slow down” in the pandemic trend following the imposition of new restrictions.

“But it will take a while for this slow down to occur,” David said. 

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