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OCTA backs keeping GCQ status in Metro Manila in July

Philippines | National

OCTA backs keeping GCQ status in Metro Manila in July

By Ellalyn De Vera-Ruiz

(JANSEN ROMERO / FILE PHOTO / MANILA BULLETIN)

Independent research group OCTA has expressed its support to maintain a general community quarantine (GCQ) status in Metro Manila in July.

OCTA Research fellow Dr. Guido David said retaining GCQ in Metro Manila is "appropriate for now" but may be allowed to increase business capacities and open other businesses.

"I think we agree with the position of the Department of Health that we should maintain a general community quarantine in the NCR (National Capital Region). Because although the trend is decreasing, the virus is still present," David said in a CNN interview on Monday, June 28.

"The Alpha and Beta variants are contagious but we’ve been able to suppress them. We’re happy that we’ve been able to do that but we should not underestimate variants. We should continue to be vigilant, continue to practice safety standards and health standards so that we don’t allow these variants to spread and we should be able to control the spread further," he added.

David said that Metro Manila remains as "moderate-low risk" to COVID infections with an average daily attack rate of 4.5 percent.

Metro Manila is averaging about 620 new cases per day, which is already a significant decrease from the peak of about 5,500 cases back in early April, he added.

"We’re almost back to pre-surge levels. Our pre-surge level was about 400 to 500 , and now were about 620 . Our positivity rate is down to 7 percent and our hospital utilization rate is about 37 percent. We also have our reproduction number which is about 0.75," David said.

Metro Manila has been placed under GCQ with "some restrictions" until the end of June.

Related Tags

OCTA Research guido david GCQ

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