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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider MECQ in NCR+ by next week 'possible' -- OCTA

MECQ in NCR+ by next week 'possible' -- OCTA

Published Apr 6, 2021 09:43 am

The OCTA Research Group said it is “possible” for the areas in the National Capital Region Plus (NCR Plus) to shift to the Modified Enhanced Community Quarantine (MECQ) by next week.

Residents queue up to enter a market in Manila on March 28, 2021
(Photo by Jam STA ROSA / AFP / MANILA BULLETIN)

Dr. David Guido, OCTA research fellow, said that his team is projecting the reproduction rate to reach 1.2 or even 1.1 or 1 by the end of the week.

As of Monday, April 5, the reproduction rate in NCR is already at 1.53.

“Pag ganon, medyo malapit na siya sa 1, baka pwede na kahit mag MECQ tayo, kaya natin mapababa ‘yun sa 1 within the following week (If that’s the case, if the reproduction number is near 1 it’s possible to shift to MECQ, since we can manage to bring it down to 1 within the following week),” Guido told DZMM in an interview on Tuesday (April 6).

“Baka di na necessary yung ECQ or extending ECQ sa ganon sitwasyon (ECQ or extending ECQ may no longer be necessary given that situation),” he added.

Guido, however, said they can still re-evaluate at the end of the week to see if their projections will be met.

In case the reproduction number does not go down to 1.2 or lower, Guido said it would be hard to relax restrictions.

Presidential spokesman Harry Roque, in an interview with CNN Philippines on Monday, said an ECQ extension in the NCR Plus is “unlikely.”

Roque also bared that the government is eyeing to place the areas under the bubble under the less restrictive MECQ.

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