As Metro Manila is set to be placed under the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) starting August 6, the Department of Health (DOH) said that all safety protocols will apply to all individuals--- whether they are vaccinated or not.
DOH Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said that there will be “no distinction” between the vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals on who should be allowed outdoors.
“No differentiation between vaccinated and unvaccinated. Ayun pong APORS ang pwedeng lumabas (Only the APORs will be allowed to go out). These are the authorized persons outside of their residence,” said Vergeire in an online forum on Friday, July 30.
Vergeire said that the country’s vaccine supply remains limited.
“That is why, it is not the time yet para makapag impose tayo ng ganitong regulasyon (for us to impose such a regulation),” she said.
“Ibig sabihin doon po sa mga hindi bakunado, meron po diyan na talagang ayaw nilang magpabakuna, ngunit meron din po diyang gusto niyang magpabakuna pero hindi pa siya nakakapag-access ng bakuna(It means, on those who remain unvaccinated, there are people who really don't want to be vaccinated, but there are also those who want to be vaccinated but they have not been able to access the vaccine),”
Metro Manila will shift to the strictest quarantine classification from August 6 to 20 due to the threat of the more transmissible Delta variant of the COVID-19 virus.
“Kaya nagkaroon ng ganitong desisyon na magkaroon ng additional restrictions for this week, and in the coming weeks we will go into tightened restrictions, para lang we can prevent the further spread and delay this pagtaas ng kaso sa ating bansa (That's why we made this decision to have additional restrictions for this week, and in the coming weeks---- we will go into tightened restrictions, so we can prevent the further spread and delay this increase in cases in our country),” said Vergeire.
Metro Manila mayors had expressed their support for the imposition of ECQ in the area, and requested the national government of at least four million doses of COVID-19 vaccines to ramp up the vaccination drive amid the two-week lockdown.
Vergeire said that the government can meet this demand, quoting vaccine czar Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr.
“Meron naman tayong supplies na enough para makapagbigay tayo ng ganitong kadami na bakuna sa NCR,” said Vergeire.
“Pero syempre pag-uusapan pa rin (But of course, there should be a discussion) with all of the officials because we need to also provide vaccines to the other areas of the country,” she added.