The nation is almost "back to zero" after the government escalated the community quarantine levels in Metro Manila and several other areas in the country amid rising cases of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), according to President Duterte.
The President gave the frank assessment shortly before announcing the country's quarantine restrictions for the month of April during a televised address Monday, March 29.
"I’ll start by reading the places that are under enhanced community quarantine (ECQ). Kagaya ‘yan sa una. Halos back to zero tayo dito (We’re almost back to zero). NCR (National Capital Region), Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna, Rizal. That is March 29 until April 4 ang kanilang subject to review (subject to review)," he said in his remarks aired on state television.
These five areas, collectively known as NCR-Plus, have been placed under the most stringent lockdown to curb the rapid surge in coronavirus cases, prevent the hospitals from getting overwhelmed, and save more lives. Restrictions included stay-at-home rule except for essential needs, a ban on mass gatherings, and reduced operations of businesses and public transportation.
Two places will also be placed under the modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ), the second most restrictive in the four quarantine levels implemented by the government. MECQ will be enforced in Santiago City from April 1 to April 30, 2021 as well as Quirino province from April 1 to April 15, 2021.
Areas under general community quarantine (GCQ) are Cordillera Administrative Region, Cagayan, Isabela, Nueva Vizcaya, Batangas, Tacloban City, Iligan City, Davao City, and Lanao del Sur.
The rest of the country will stay under the more relaxed modified general community quarantine (MGCQ).
"For de-escalation of the quarantine the --- it will be loosened or stricter depending on the --- depending on the result of the surveys," Duterte said.
As the stricter quarantine levels take effect by April, the President also defended the government's pandemic response from criticisms it supposedly failed to mitigate the impact of the health crisis.
He pointed out that other countries have also reimposed lockdowns to break the resurgence of the coronavirus transmission.
"Now, bakit ganoon? Ang gobyerno ba natin nagkulang? Ang gobyerno ba natin walang ginawa? (Now, why did this happen? Did the government commit shortcomings? Did the government do nothing?)" he said.
"Alam mo sa totoo lang ang naka-lockdown ngayon, naka-lockdown ang (You know the countries on lockdown now are) the countries of Ukraine, France, Germany, Poland, Italy). Seventy-five percent of Italy has entered a new lockdown in a bid to fight the rising rates of coronavirus. Hindi lang tayo (not just us)," he said.
He noted that some countries managed to get their hands on the vaccines first but the coronavirus developed new strains.
"I’m not a doctor or a medical practitioner pero may mga reinfection sila at may bagong strain at ito ‘yong tinatakutan (kinatatakutan) ko (but they have reinfections and I am scared of the new strain)," he said.
The country has seen an alarming increase in coronavirus cases in recent days. The highest single-day increase in new active cases was recorded Monday at 10,016, pushing the country’s total number to 731,894.