As coronavirus disease cases (COVID-19) continue to rise, it is "still premature" to consider easing the quarantine restrictions in Metro Manila to modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ), a key government official handling the government's pandemic response has bared.

Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr., vaccine czar and chief implementer of the National Task Force (NTF) Against COVID-19, said they will hold a separate meeting with the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) after the weekly Cabinet meeting with President Duterte Monday, Aug. 16, to discuss whether or not to prolong the imposition of enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) in Metro Manila.

However, looking at the current situation, he implied that the NTF is leaning towards favoring the extension of ECQ.

"We're still looking at the cases. Nakita natin tumataas ang cases natin and it is still premature to downgrade it to MECQ," said Galvez in a press briefing during the arrival of 469,200 doses of Moderna vaccine on Sunday afternoon, Aug. 15.

Metro Manila was placed under the strictest form of lockdown from Aug. 6 to 20 amid a sharp rise in the number of new cases in the past few weeks which is believed to have been caused by the highly contagious Delta variant.

Apart from the Delta variant, the first case of the Lambda variant -- initially detected in Peru in 2020 -- has already been found in the country, as announced by the Department of Health (DOH) Sunday.

Galvez reiterated the importance of getting the vaccine so that the public, especially the most vulnerable sectors such as medical frontliners, senior citizens, and persons with co-morbidity, will be protected against severe infection, hospitalization, and death.

"Sa threshold, if we are able to vaccinate 50 percent or 70 percent of our population doon bababa ang trend ng cases (In our threshold, if we are able to vaccinate 50 percent or 70 percent of our population, that's when the trend of the cases will decrease)," he noted.

On Sunday, 14,749 new cases were recorded by the DOH, the new second-highest single-day tally, which pushed the total to 1,741,616 cases.

The highest number of new cases in a single day was logged last April 2 with 15,310 cases.

To achieve herd immunity, the government targets to vaccinate by the end of 2021 around 77 million Filipinos (70 percent) out of the 110 million total population in the Philippines.

As of Saturday, around 27.55 million vaccine doses have been administered nationwide: 15.09 million Filipinos have received their first dose while 12.46 million have been fully vaccinated.

The vaccine czar reminded the public to continue the strict adherence to the minimum public health standard to avoid catching the coronavirus. This includes the wearing of face mask, face shield, maintaining social distancing, and avoiding public gatherings.

"But for now, what we are asking to the people, let's continue to observe the minimum health standard and also just in case walang gagawing importante, manatili sa bahay (stay at home if you have no essential trip outside)," Galvez said.

"Do not be complacent. Let's be vigilant," he appealed.