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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider ECQ lifting or extension? IATF to meet Saturday to discuss NCR+ quarantine classification

ECQ lifting or extension? IATF to meet Saturday to discuss NCR+ quarantine classification

Published Apr 8, 2021 06:40 pm

The government task force in charge of addressing the pandemic is set to hold a meeting this Saturday, April 10, to tackle the proposed quarantine classification of Greater Manila Area.

Metro Manila, Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna and Rizal has been placed under most restrictive enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) since March 29 to stem the rapid surge of coronavirus cases. The strict lockdown, that includes strict stay-at-home rule, ban on mass gatherings, and reduced capacity of businesses and public transportation, has been extended until April 11.

"The Inter-Agency Task Force shall meet on Saturday, April 10, 2021, to discuss the quarantine classification of the National Capital Region Plus," Presidential spokesman Harry Roque said in a statement Thursday, April 8.

Roque made the announcement after he and several Cabinet members held a closed-door meeting on the pandemic response Thursday. President Duterte did not attend the meeting via video conference.

The Palace earlier raised the possibility that the two-week strict lockdown in NCR Plus may no longer be extended next week. Instead, the government is reportedly mulling the imposition of the less restrictive modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) if certain health conditions are met.

READ: https://mb.com.ph/2021/04/05/govt-mulls-mecq-in-ncr-next-week-to-reduce-covid-19-cases/

The ECQ was put in place to slow down the coronavirus case surge, buy time for the health system to cope and protect more lives. Concerned government agencies and local government units have been directed to step up prevent-detect-isolate-treat-rehabilitate strategy during the lockdown period.

In Resolution No. 108-A, the IATF ruled that the community quarantine classification on NCR Plus may be relaxed to MECQ "upon proof of better performance across all indicators especially in terms of early detection and isolation."

The task force ordered an increase in dedicated COVID-19 beds in isolation, quarantine, and health facilities, improve efficiency of contact tracing,  and intensify enforcement of health protocols in the local level. The National Task Force Against COVID-19 and agencies have been directed to monitor and report the progress on these measures to fight the outbreak.

READ: https://mb.com.ph/2021/04/04/govt-to-strictly-implement-health-protocols-track-new-cases/

The country has seen an alarming rise in coronavirus cases in recent days following the emergence of the new and more infectious variants.  As of April 8, the country has recorded 9,216 new cases of coronavirus, pushing the total active cases to 167,279.

The country has so far tallied 828,366 cases of infections with 14,119 deaths.

READ: https://mb.com.ph/2021/04/08/ph-now-has-over-160000-active-covid-19-cases/

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