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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Not yet time to relax quarantine protocols in NCR+ -- health expert

Not yet time to relax quarantine protocols in NCR+ -- health expert

Published May 29, 2021 03:24 pm

This is not yet the time to further ease quarantine restrictions in Metro Manila and nearby provinces as the number of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases remain high, a public health expert said Saturday, May 29.

(Manila Bulletin File Photo)

Dr. Anthony Leachon has suggested that the government retain the general community quarantine (GCQ) status imposed over the National Capital Region (NCR)-plus, noting that relaxing quarantine protocols must be done gradually.

Aside from maintaining the current quarantine status, Leachon urged the government to ramp up testing and rapid vaccination of vulnerable individuals.

“Hindi pa siya napapanahon, sa tingin ko, kasi dapat dahan-dahan ito (I don’t think the time is right because this should be done gradually),” he said in an interview over TeleRadyo.

The health expert pointed out that the country’s positivity rate remains above 13 percent within the past two months.

He also raised concern over the latest number of new infections nationwide after the Department of Health (DOH) reported 8,748 new cases on Friday, May 28.

“Hindi pa tayo ready kasi yung positivity rate at tsaka yung new cases iyan ay mga parameters na strongly ibig sabihin madaling makahawa pa iyan (We are not ready yet because the positivity rate and the new cases are parameters that strongly mean that the risk of infection is high),” Leachon said.

While the situation in NCR plus is improving, he expressed alarm over the increase in cases in other provinces, particularly in Palawan which currently has a high positivity rate.

Leachon pointed out that among the best practices employed by countries when there is an increase in cases is having a science-based approach which includes testing, tracing, isolation, as well as massive vaccination.

“Ang suggestion ko, hinay-hinay muna kasi pagtumaas na naman ang NCR, titigil muli ang ekonomiya natin kasi ito yung center natin ng business (My suggestion is, the easing must be done slowly because if cases in NCR rise again, our economy will stop again because this is the center of business), he said.

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Metro Manila covid-19 NCR-plus pandemic GCQ with heightened alert
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