The government should consider shifting Metro Manila under the modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) after Aug. 20, but stricter localized lockdowns must be implemented in areas experiencing a spike in coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases, a special adviser to the Interagency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) said.
"Kung opinion ko lang ang masusunod, kung ako ang namumuno sa IATF, bababa ako sa MECQ at paiigtingin ko iyong mga Mayor iyong mga LGU iyong localized lockdown, testing (If only my opinion is to be followed, if I am in charge of the IATF, I will de-escalate to MECQ and I will intensify the implementation of localized lockdown, testing)," said Ted Herbosa on Wednesday, Aug. 18.
Herbosa also acknowledged that it is hard to decide on the next quarantine classification for Metro Manila since both health and economic factors should be considered.
“Kasi kung medical lang ang titingnan mo eh mas maganda ituloy natin iyong ECQ para tuluy-tuloy na mabawasan iyong transmission at kumonti ang bagong kaso (If you only look at the medical side, it's better that we continue the ECQ to further reduce transmission and to lower down the number of new cases),” he said.
“Pero ang daming nawawalan ng trabaho, nagugutom, hindi kumikita. So, talagang parang nagba-balancing act iyong ating IATF at magdidesisyon talaga (But many are losing their jobs, starving, or are not earning. So, our IATF is really balancing the situation),” he added.
If Metro Manila will be placed under MECQ, Herbosa urged local government units to intensify the implementation of localized lockdowns and their testing efforts.
“Very important din na makapag-implement tayo, let’s say mas maluwag na MECQ ang i-implement after Aug. 20, importante na iyong mga local chief executive mag-implement ng mga localized ECQ lalo na doon sa mga area na may outbreak pa or clustering of cases (Let's say MECQ will be imposed after August 20, it is important that the local chief executives will implement localized ECQ, especially in areas with outbreaks or clustering of cases),” said Herbosa.