By Martin Sadongdong and Argyll Cyrus Geducos

The government is studying whether there is a need to extend the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) for 15 more days to sustain the gains achieved thus far in containing the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), the chief implementer of the National Action Plan (NAP) against the illness disclosed on Saturday.

Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr., of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity (OPAPRU), said it is still premature to announce whether the enhanced quarantine will be lifted or extended further as various factors need to be considered.

“I-involve natin dito ang mga scientist at doctor. Titingnan natin ang reference models sa ibang bansa. Mahirap po na mag-announce tayo ng normalcy and then babalik na naman tayo sa lockdown (We need to involve the scientists and doctors. We have to look at the reference models of other countries. It's difficult to announce that we are going back to normal, only to implement another lockdown),” he said in a radio interview over DZBB.

He observed that the Luzon-wide lockdown has slowed down the spread of the virus, citing strategic analysis reports

“Malaki ang possibility na magkaroon tayo ng dagdag na 15 days or 20 days para ma-sustain dahil sa ngayon po umaakyat pa (There is a big possibility that we will have a 15- to 20- day extension to sustain because is still rising),” Galvez said.

Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles admitted that the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases was finding it difficult to recommend the suspension or lifting of the Luzon lockdown due to the absence of conclusive data.

Nograles, IATF spokesman, clarified that there are five factors that are being carefully studied to determine if the enhanced community quarantine will be lifted or extended.

“Maaalala niyo po noong isang araw in-announce ko po ang pagbuo ng grupo na inatasang aralin ang pagtuloy o pag-lift ng ECQ. Inapprove na po ng IATF ang batayan na gagamitin nila para sa desisyong ito (To recall, I announce last time that a group was formed to study the possible extension or lifting of the ECQ. The IATF approved the parameters that they will use for this purpose),” Nograles said.

The five factors being considered are:

• Trends in the COVID-19 epidemiological curve;
• Capacity of the country's healthcare system, including the number and availability of quarantine, isolation, and treatment facilities;
• Social factors;
• Economic factors; and
• Security factors

For this purpose, Nograles said the Department of Health (DOH) was directed to convene all concerned agencies and to finalize the aggregation and analysis of all relevant data applicable to the contained area.

“ is subject to the deliberation of the IATF and final determination by the President,” he said.

Galvez said it is up to President Duterte to decide on the status of the enhanced community quarantine: “Pinag-uusapan pa sa itaas, hindi natin pwede i-preempt ang desisyon ng President (It is still being discussed by the higher-ups. We cannot preempt the decision of the President).”

The same sub-technical working group (TWG) was likewise directed to apply the same parameters and come up with recommendations with regard to the possible implementation of a general or enhanced community quarantine in localities in the Visayas and Mindanao.

Galvez noted that there are countries which saw a surge in new COVID-19 cases after they had lifted the quarantine measures.

The whole of Luzon is currently under ECQ until April 12, while the National Capital Region is under community quarantine until April 14.

Presidential Adviser for Entrepreneurship Joey Concepcion had earlier suggested a shift to selective quarantine at the barangay level after the expiration of the Luzon lockdown.

Concepcion likewise proposed allowing manufacturing, construction, and agricultural activities to resume operation based on demand.

Adjustments

Meanwhile, Galvez advised the public to expect some adjustments as the country approaches the final days of the lockdown, including the mandatory wearing of face masks when going outside of the house.

Galvez said this was observed in countries which have successfully contained the coronavirus such as South Korea, Japan and Hong Kong.

He said individuals who will be caught not wearing face masks will be given a warning on their first offense, and might be arrested on the succeeding offense.

“Kapag recidivist, pwede nating imbitahan at ikulong, 'yan po ang ano ng PNP na kapag pasaway dapat imbestigahan. Sa ibang bansa pinoposasan at pinapalo pa nila para bumalik sa kanilang mga bahay (If an offender is a recidivist, we can jail or invite , that is the mandate of the police, to investigate offenders. In other countries, they put on handcuffs to convince offenders to return to their houses),” Galvez said.

The conduct of mass testing for frontliners and persons under investigation (PUIs) and persons under monitoring (PUMs) has also begun, Galvez claimed.

He said the DOH can now conduct 1,000 tests per day since there are already nine accredited COVID-19 testing centers in the country.

The testing centers include the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine in Muntinlupa City, San Lazaro Hospital and UP National Health Institute in Manila, Lung Center of the Philippines in Quezon City, Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center, Western Visayas Medical Center in Iloilo City, Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center in Cebu City, Southern Philippines Medical Center in Davao City, and Bicol Public Health Laboratory.

Galvez said they aim to conduct from 2,000 to 3,000 tests per day since nine more hospitals are being evaluated to serve as COVID-19 testing centers.