By Argyll Cyrus Geducos  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. Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles
(PCOO / MANILA BULLETIN FILE PHOTO) In his virtual presser, Nograles said the IATF was only able to adopt a set of parameters for deciding on the total or partial lifting or the possible extension of the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) in Luzon. The parameters are: Trends in the COVID-19 epidemiological curve, which include, among others, the doubling time, acceleration, or deceleration of new cases; Capacity of the health care system, which includes, among others, the number and availability of quarantine, isolation, and treatment facilities; the capability to mount contact tracing; availability of personal protective equipment (PPEs) to frontliners, and the testing capacity of the country; 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. 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. The whole of Luzon is under ECQ until April 12, while the National Capital Region is under a community quarantine until April 14. Presidential Adviser for Entrepreneurship Joey Concepcion 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. As of Friday afternoon, the DOH has reported 3,018 cases of COVID-19 --136 of whom have died while 52 have recovered. Based on the DOH's tracker, the country has conducted tests for COVID-19 on 5,267 persons under investigation (PUIs). Quarantine Meanwhile, Nograles thanked the Iglesia Ni Cristo for allowing the government to use their entire Ciudad de Victoria estate in Bulacan as a quarantine facility for confirmed and suspected COVID-19 patients. The facilities on the estate include the Philippine Arena, Philippine Sports Stadium, and The Garden Suites. The use of the facilities in Ciudad de Victoria added to 12 other facilities in Metro Manila being prepared as quarantine facilities. The other locations earlier identified are the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC), Rizal Memorial Coliseum, PhilSports Arena, and Amoranto Sports Complex, among others. In his presser, Nograles highlighted the importance of having more quarantine facilities as it was one of the factors being considered in lifting or extending the Luzon lockdown. "There will be facilities not just for patients but for our frontliners. Once everything is readied, the whole complex will have an estimated 1,065 rooms for patients, while frontliners will be able to share 476 suites good for two to four health workers each," he said. The Palace official likewise thanked passenger ferry company 2GO, with whom the Department of Transportation (DOTr) was working to set up a floating hospital that can serve 1,500 patients, as well as a smaller ship that can handle 300 more. "This is all on top of the 1,000 that can be served in the terminal alone. All together it can serve 2,800 people, and it will be operational by next week," he said. Nograles likewise expressed gratitude to The Oriental Hotel chain, with branches in Legazpi, Mariveles, and Leyte, for offering close to 300 rooms for health workers. He also thanked Villa Amada in Legazpi for offering 20 rooms, and five other hotels in Naga for offering a total of 111 rooms for frontliners. New exemption Health maintenance organizations (HMOs), Philhealth, and health insurance providers are now exempted from the quarantine restrictions as they are now considered part of health frontline services. Developments Meanwhile, the IATF announced that it has authorized the technical visit of 12 medical experts from China, who will assist government efforts in addressing the COVID-19 situation in the Philippines, subject to ratification by the Office of the President. A new IATF sub-TWG was also created to convene and propose information and communications technology solutions for the government’s response to the COVID-19 situation. The sub-TWG will be chaired by the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT). Other members are the departments of Health (DOH), Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Science and Technology (DOST), and Education (DepEd). Other members are the Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA), the National Privacy Commission (NPC), the National Security Council (NSC), the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC), and such other agencies as the chair may deem appropriate. https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x7t3v6d