Experts warn against abrupt ECQ lifting
Published Apr 21, 2020 12:00 am
By Martin Sadongdong, Jeffrey Damicog, Vanne Elaine Terrazola, and Mario Casayuran
Metro Manila may have already reached the “peak” or highest number of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) infections daily, but this does not mean that the government can already relax the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ).
Presidential Peace Adviser Carlito G. Galvez Jr.
(OPAPP / MANILA BULLETIN FILE PHOTO) Secretary Carlito Galvez, Jr., chief implementer of the National Task Force (NTF) against Coronavirus Disease, stressed this Tuesday, saying there is a possibility that the rate of new infections could spike if the ECQ is abruptly lifted in the National Capital Region (NCR or Metro Manila). He noted that under the current situation, the implementation of the Luzon-wide lockdown has been “effective” in slowing down the spread of the virus, citing a study from the University of the Philippines Research Institute (UPRI) This was the reason health experts and scientists advised President Duterte to consider science-based models in making a decision on whether to extend or lift the ECQ after April 30, Galvez said. Dr. Tony Leachon, adviser to the Inter-Agency Task Force on COVID19, warned that if restrictions are lifted too soon, there would be a resurgence of COVID-19 cases. He instead urged the government to consider extending the community quarantine in Metro Manila and implementing a modified lockdown in other areas. “I would recommend extension in Metro Manila, May 1 to 15, basically to increase the health care capacity, the testing centers, procure more test kits, improve the hospital facilities and see the figures go down,” he said in an interview with CNN Philippines on Wednesday. He said that National Capital Region (NCR or Metropolitan Manila) remains the epicenter of the COVID-19 cases in the country. “Eighty percent of the cases are in the National Capital Region,” Leachon said. He suggested a modified implementation of the ECQ over the entire Luzon. “There can be a modified ECQ in Luzon and other areas because there are certain areas with increasing rates like Calabarzon, Pampanga, and Bulacan,” he noted. On the other hand, Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto said President Duterte should not lift the ECQ for largely affected areas, like the NCR, but modify it in areas with less or no transmission of COVID-19. “Ang inaasahan ko at sana ay maging mangyari ay modified. Modified, meaning 'yong mga biggest hit na areas katulad ng NCR, ay ibang klaseng, hindi pwedeng i-lift. Kailangang i-extend. Pero merong mga modifications (I am expecting, and I hope it will happen, that the ECQ will be modified. Modified, meaning in the biggest-hit areas like the NCR, the ECQ should not be lifted. It should be extended, but there has to be some modifications),” Sotto told radio DZMM. He said “enhanced social distancing” may just be enforced in some provinces that recorded low or no coronavirus infections, like Palawan and the Ilocos Region, as well some areas in the Visayas and Mindanao. Sotto agreed with health experts that the government cannot abruptly lift the quarantine measures. Like Sotto, Senator Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go said he favors extending the enhanced community quarantine measures in areas with high coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases, such as Metro Manila. Sen. Joel Villanueva said the quarantine can be lifted in some areas in Luzon “because they are far from having an outbreak.” “In areas like NCR, Cebu, Bulacan, and Davao City, we can look at economic considerations in exempting some sectors from the quarantine but with the caveat that we will practice social distancing, hand washing, and sanitizing protocols, and of course, conducting regular random testing in these sectors,” he said. Extending the lockdown in largely affected areas like Metro Manila while easing it in others with less COVID19 cases “sounds like a reasonable compromise,” said Sen. Juan Edgardo Angara. He said, however, that ports should remain open and food should be free to move around the country since they are “an absolute essential”. “Whatever the decision of the President must be announced with some lead time especially if it involves some lifting or relaxation of the ECQ since preparations must be made on the ground,” Angara said. Duterte is reportedly set to announce his decision whether to extend, modify, or lift the ECQ on Thursday, April 23. University of the Philippines experts, led by Dr. Mahar Lagmay recommended to President Duterte the cancellation of classes until December, 2020, to effectively limit further COVID-19 infections. Lagmay presented some of the group's recommendations in a Tuesday press briefing in Malacañang, which included the suspension of classroombased lectures until yearend. “Base doon sa mga model, kapag tayo ay walang klase hanggang December – at ito po ay nirerekomenda – ay malaki ang maibabawas natin sa transmission ng COVID-19 (Based on our models, if we don't hold classes until December – and we are recommending this – it will be a big help in reducing COVID-19 transmissions),” Lagmay said. The UPRI executive director added that 56 percent of interactions among age groups happen among those aged 19 and younger – meaning they are most likely to come in contact with the elderly and infect them, thus the recommendation. The virus, which mostly targets the lungs, has proven to be more damaging to senior citizens as well as those with pre-existing medical conditions. The Department of Education (DepEd), however, urged UPRI experts to “engage and consult” them first to avoid pre-empting the decision on opening of classes for School Year (SY) 2020-2021. “We hope the UP experts will engage DepEd on this,” said DepEd Undersecretary and spokesman Nepomuceno Malaluan. The opening of classes, Malaluan said, “is under deliberation and consultation within DepEd and with partners.” He added that DepEd has been working on a Learning Continuity Plan (LCP) which covers schedule of school opening, the conduct of the school year, especially when it comes to addressing possible disruptions, and putting into priority the health, safety and well-being of both learners and teachers. “We are looking closely at facts and evidence, including theirs,” Malaluan said. “We hope the UP experts would not pre-empt this decision without even checking with Department,” he added. Sotto also suggested letting certain sectors and workers resume operations, like tricycles and other modes of public transport, or construction, while maintaining safe distancing. This was also the view of his colleagues in the Senate who said essential industries should be allowed to operate to help restart the local economy. “Those towns that are COVID-free can restart commerce in a limited way. Wearing masks, social distancing, etc. It’s more sustainable if the and the private sector can do mass testing, isolation, and treatment of patients,” Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto said in a text message on Tuesday. (With a report from Merlina Malipot)
Presidential Peace Adviser Carlito G. Galvez Jr.(OPAPP / MANILA BULLETIN FILE PHOTO) Secretary Carlito Galvez, Jr., chief implementer of the National Task Force (NTF) against Coronavirus Disease, stressed this Tuesday, saying there is a possibility that the rate of new infections could spike if the ECQ is abruptly lifted in the National Capital Region (NCR or Metro Manila). He noted that under the current situation, the implementation of the Luzon-wide lockdown has been “effective” in slowing down the spread of the virus, citing a study from the University of the Philippines Research Institute (UPRI) This was the reason health experts and scientists advised President Duterte to consider science-based models in making a decision on whether to extend or lift the ECQ after April 30, Galvez said. Dr. Tony Leachon, adviser to the Inter-Agency Task Force on COVID19, warned that if restrictions are lifted too soon, there would be a resurgence of COVID-19 cases. He instead urged the government to consider extending the community quarantine in Metro Manila and implementing a modified lockdown in other areas. “I would recommend extension in Metro Manila, May 1 to 15, basically to increase the health care capacity, the testing centers, procure more test kits, improve the hospital facilities and see the figures go down,” he said in an interview with CNN Philippines on Wednesday. He said that National Capital Region (NCR or Metropolitan Manila) remains the epicenter of the COVID-19 cases in the country. “Eighty percent of the cases are in the National Capital Region,” Leachon said. He suggested a modified implementation of the ECQ over the entire Luzon. “There can be a modified ECQ in Luzon and other areas because there are certain areas with increasing rates like Calabarzon, Pampanga, and Bulacan,” he noted. On the other hand, Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto said President Duterte should not lift the ECQ for largely affected areas, like the NCR, but modify it in areas with less or no transmission of COVID-19. “Ang inaasahan ko at sana ay maging mangyari ay modified. Modified, meaning 'yong mga biggest hit na areas katulad ng NCR, ay ibang klaseng, hindi pwedeng i-lift. Kailangang i-extend. Pero merong mga modifications (I am expecting, and I hope it will happen, that the ECQ will be modified. Modified, meaning in the biggest-hit areas like the NCR, the ECQ should not be lifted. It should be extended, but there has to be some modifications),” Sotto told radio DZMM. He said “enhanced social distancing” may just be enforced in some provinces that recorded low or no coronavirus infections, like Palawan and the Ilocos Region, as well some areas in the Visayas and Mindanao. Sotto agreed with health experts that the government cannot abruptly lift the quarantine measures. Like Sotto, Senator Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go said he favors extending the enhanced community quarantine measures in areas with high coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases, such as Metro Manila. Sen. Joel Villanueva said the quarantine can be lifted in some areas in Luzon “because they are far from having an outbreak.” “In areas like NCR, Cebu, Bulacan, and Davao City, we can look at economic considerations in exempting some sectors from the quarantine but with the caveat that we will practice social distancing, hand washing, and sanitizing protocols, and of course, conducting regular random testing in these sectors,” he said. Extending the lockdown in largely affected areas like Metro Manila while easing it in others with less COVID19 cases “sounds like a reasonable compromise,” said Sen. Juan Edgardo Angara. He said, however, that ports should remain open and food should be free to move around the country since they are “an absolute essential”. “Whatever the decision of the President must be announced with some lead time especially if it involves some lifting or relaxation of the ECQ since preparations must be made on the ground,” Angara said. Duterte is reportedly set to announce his decision whether to extend, modify, or lift the ECQ on Thursday, April 23. University of the Philippines experts, led by Dr. Mahar Lagmay recommended to President Duterte the cancellation of classes until December, 2020, to effectively limit further COVID-19 infections. Lagmay presented some of the group's recommendations in a Tuesday press briefing in Malacañang, which included the suspension of classroombased lectures until yearend. “Base doon sa mga model, kapag tayo ay walang klase hanggang December – at ito po ay nirerekomenda – ay malaki ang maibabawas natin sa transmission ng COVID-19 (Based on our models, if we don't hold classes until December – and we are recommending this – it will be a big help in reducing COVID-19 transmissions),” Lagmay said. The UPRI executive director added that 56 percent of interactions among age groups happen among those aged 19 and younger – meaning they are most likely to come in contact with the elderly and infect them, thus the recommendation. The virus, which mostly targets the lungs, has proven to be more damaging to senior citizens as well as those with pre-existing medical conditions. The Department of Education (DepEd), however, urged UPRI experts to “engage and consult” them first to avoid pre-empting the decision on opening of classes for School Year (SY) 2020-2021. “We hope the UP experts will engage DepEd on this,” said DepEd Undersecretary and spokesman Nepomuceno Malaluan. The opening of classes, Malaluan said, “is under deliberation and consultation within DepEd and with partners.” He added that DepEd has been working on a Learning Continuity Plan (LCP) which covers schedule of school opening, the conduct of the school year, especially when it comes to addressing possible disruptions, and putting into priority the health, safety and well-being of both learners and teachers. “We are looking closely at facts and evidence, including theirs,” Malaluan said. “We hope the UP experts would not pre-empt this decision without even checking with Department,” he added. Sotto also suggested letting certain sectors and workers resume operations, like tricycles and other modes of public transport, or construction, while maintaining safe distancing. This was also the view of his colleagues in the Senate who said essential industries should be allowed to operate to help restart the local economy. “Those towns that are COVID-free can restart commerce in a limited way. Wearing masks, social distancing, etc. It’s more sustainable if the and the private sector can do mass testing, isolation, and treatment of patients,” Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto said in a text message on Tuesday. (With a report from Merlina Malipot)