IATF to recommend fate of ECQ Monday
Published May 10, 2020 12:00 am
By Argyll Cyrus Geducos
Will Metro Manila and other areas with high coronavirus disease (COVID-19) remain under enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) after May 15, when the third extension of the lockdown lapses?
Former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque Jr. (PCOO / MANILA BULLETIN)
The fate of the ECQ will be known after the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases submits on Monday to President Duterte its recommendation on what quarantine level will be implemented in these areas.
Presidential spokesman Harry Roque on Saturday said there was still no final decision whether to lift the lockdown in Metro Manila and other areas. He stated in an interview over state-run PTV 4 television after false information circulated on social media that the ECQ in Metro Manila was extended until early June.
In the interview, Roque clarified that while there was still no final decision on the fate of Metro Manila’s COVID-19 lockdown, he said that not all areas in the National Capital Region (NCR) will be down graded to the general community quarantine (GCQ).
“Hindi po mananatili sa ECQ ang buong Metro Manila after May 16 at hindi naman po mag-g-GCQ and buong Metro Manila after May 16 (The entire Metro Manila will not stay under the ECQ after May 16 and the entire NCR will not be downgraded to GCQ),” he said.
“It will granular, it will be surgical,” he added.
Roque said that the IATF will have a special meeting on Monday morning so they will be able to recommend to President Duterte on what phase of quarantine will be implemented level once the ECQ ends.
“lnaasahan natin sa hapon isusumite na nila kay Presidente ang kanilang rekomendasyon kung ano ang dapat mangyari sa mga lugar na nananatili po sa ECQ hanggang ngayon (We expect on Monday afternoon, they will give to the President their recommendation on what should happen especially on areas who will remain under the ECQ),” he said.
“’Yan po ay ibabase natin sa siyensiya. Titignan natin ang dami ng kaso ng COVID-19 sa isang siyudad, sa isang barangay, at titignan din po natin yung kapasidad na magbigay ng critical care (We will base it on science and will look at the number of COVID-19 cases in a city or barangay, and the capacity to provide critical care),” he added.
The Palace official said that with the country’s improved testing capacity, the government now knows which areas can be considered as “critical” and those that are not and can somehow return to normal.
Meanwhile, Roque said the IATF will consider the recommendation of Metro Manila mayors to extend the ECQ in the NCR until June 15.
“Ikokonsidera naman po ang rekomendasyon ng mga mayors, bakit naman hindi? Sila talaga ang nagi-implement ng ating programa laban sa COVID-19 (We will consider their recommendations, of course. They are the ones implementing our COVID-19 protocols),” he said.
On the other hand, Roque said the IATF has approved the recommendation to retain the province of Abra under the GCQ as it is still considered as a low-risk area.
Former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque Jr. (PCOO / MANILA BULLETIN)
The fate of the ECQ will be known after the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases submits on Monday to President Duterte its recommendation on what quarantine level will be implemented in these areas.
Presidential spokesman Harry Roque on Saturday said there was still no final decision whether to lift the lockdown in Metro Manila and other areas. He stated in an interview over state-run PTV 4 television after false information circulated on social media that the ECQ in Metro Manila was extended until early June.
In the interview, Roque clarified that while there was still no final decision on the fate of Metro Manila’s COVID-19 lockdown, he said that not all areas in the National Capital Region (NCR) will be down graded to the general community quarantine (GCQ).
“Hindi po mananatili sa ECQ ang buong Metro Manila after May 16 at hindi naman po mag-g-GCQ and buong Metro Manila after May 16 (The entire Metro Manila will not stay under the ECQ after May 16 and the entire NCR will not be downgraded to GCQ),” he said.
“It will granular, it will be surgical,” he added.
Roque said that the IATF will have a special meeting on Monday morning so they will be able to recommend to President Duterte on what phase of quarantine will be implemented level once the ECQ ends.
“lnaasahan natin sa hapon isusumite na nila kay Presidente ang kanilang rekomendasyon kung ano ang dapat mangyari sa mga lugar na nananatili po sa ECQ hanggang ngayon (We expect on Monday afternoon, they will give to the President their recommendation on what should happen especially on areas who will remain under the ECQ),” he said.
“’Yan po ay ibabase natin sa siyensiya. Titignan natin ang dami ng kaso ng COVID-19 sa isang siyudad, sa isang barangay, at titignan din po natin yung kapasidad na magbigay ng critical care (We will base it on science and will look at the number of COVID-19 cases in a city or barangay, and the capacity to provide critical care),” he added.
The Palace official said that with the country’s improved testing capacity, the government now knows which areas can be considered as “critical” and those that are not and can somehow return to normal.
Meanwhile, Roque said the IATF will consider the recommendation of Metro Manila mayors to extend the ECQ in the NCR until June 15.
“Ikokonsidera naman po ang rekomendasyon ng mga mayors, bakit naman hindi? Sila talaga ang nagi-implement ng ating programa laban sa COVID-19 (We will consider their recommendations, of course. They are the ones implementing our COVID-19 protocols),” he said.
On the other hand, Roque said the IATF has approved the recommendation to retain the province of Abra under the GCQ as it is still considered as a low-risk area.