By Jeffrey Damicog
Since the country has increased its capacity in dealing with the 2019 novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19), the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) has recommended that Metro Manila be placed under general community quarantine (GCQ) starting this June.
(REUTERS / MANILA BULLETIN)
“Ang recommendation natin sa Metro Manila ay ma-declare sila as general community quarantine (We have recommended to have Metro Manila declared under GCQ),” Interior Secretary Eduardo Ano, chairman of the IATF-EID, said during an interview over CNN Philippines.
“Ang mga mayor ay may authority mag-declare ng total lockdown sa mga high risk barangays. (Mayors will also have the authority to declare total lockdowns of high risk barangays),” he added.
Ano revealed that this was reached during the IATF-EID’s meeting on Wednesday, May 27, and will present the recommendations to President Duterte on Thursday night, May 28.
The Secretary said that the recommendation may still change based on inputs made by the President and local chief executives.
Ano explained that the decision to place Metro Manila under GCQ can be attributed in part to the increase in the capacity in dealing with COVID-19.
“Tumaas na rin ang ating kapasidad sa testing at contact tracing at marami na rin tayong isolation facilities (We have finally increased in our capacity for testing, contact tracing and increased number of isolation facilities),” he said.
“Kaya naman din tayo nahirapan nung una mababa yung testing capacity natin masyadong mataas yung health utility rate (We faced difficulties at first because we have low testing capacity and there was high utility rate),” he added.
The Secretary assured that IATF-EID experts and agencies involved in dealing with COVID-19 will help local chief executives in making these decisions.
“So hindi lang nag-iisa yung mayors dito (The mayors are not alone in making these decisions),” he said.
Once Metro Manila has been placed under GCQ, Ano said the AITF-EID will focus on three cities which remain high risk, namely, Manila, Quezon City and Paranaque City.
“Hindi naman pwede ideklara MECQ yung tatlong at yung iba GCQ (We cannot place the three cities under MECQ while the other areas in Metro Manila are under GCQ),” said Ano as he explained many persons living in one area go to work in another.
(REUTERS / MANILA BULLETIN)
“Ang recommendation natin sa Metro Manila ay ma-declare sila as general community quarantine (We have recommended to have Metro Manila declared under GCQ),” Interior Secretary Eduardo Ano, chairman of the IATF-EID, said during an interview over CNN Philippines.
“Ang mga mayor ay may authority mag-declare ng total lockdown sa mga high risk barangays. (Mayors will also have the authority to declare total lockdowns of high risk barangays),” he added.
Ano revealed that this was reached during the IATF-EID’s meeting on Wednesday, May 27, and will present the recommendations to President Duterte on Thursday night, May 28.
The Secretary said that the recommendation may still change based on inputs made by the President and local chief executives.
Ano explained that the decision to place Metro Manila under GCQ can be attributed in part to the increase in the capacity in dealing with COVID-19.
“Tumaas na rin ang ating kapasidad sa testing at contact tracing at marami na rin tayong isolation facilities (We have finally increased in our capacity for testing, contact tracing and increased number of isolation facilities),” he said.
“Kaya naman din tayo nahirapan nung una mababa yung testing capacity natin masyadong mataas yung health utility rate (We faced difficulties at first because we have low testing capacity and there was high utility rate),” he added.
The Secretary assured that IATF-EID experts and agencies involved in dealing with COVID-19 will help local chief executives in making these decisions.
“So hindi lang nag-iisa yung mayors dito (The mayors are not alone in making these decisions),” he said.
Once Metro Manila has been placed under GCQ, Ano said the AITF-EID will focus on three cities which remain high risk, namely, Manila, Quezon City and Paranaque City.
“Hindi naman pwede ideklara MECQ yung tatlong at yung iba GCQ (We cannot place the three cities under MECQ while the other areas in Metro Manila are under GCQ),” said Ano as he explained many persons living in one area go to work in another.