DOH, hospital group in favor of extending MECQ

The Department of Health (DOH) is in favor of extending for another 1 or 2 weeks the implementation of modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) in Metro Manila and neighboring provinces to control the spread of COVID-19.

“Kinakailangan ipagpatuloy ang MECQ for another week or two dahil nga ‘yung ating health system capacity hindi masyadong nag-i-improve pa sa ngayon. Ipagpatuloy muna natin ang MECQ para kitang-kita o malaki ang pagbaba ng mga bagong kaso at magkaroon ng reversal ng trend,” said Health Secretary Francisco Duque III.

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On Tuesday, the IATF is scheduled to discuss the quarantine classification to be imposed nationwide in May, and it is possible that President Rodrigo Duterte will announce it on Wednesday.

Metro Manila mayors, on the other hand, have not agreed on a recommendation so far.

According to the DOH, the number of COVID-19 cases dropped slightly to 9,500 daily average from 10,800 average last week.

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But he said the hospitals still need to be completely decongested.

“Alam naman natin kung bababa o magli-lift tayo ng restrictions alam natin na medyo tataas ang mga kaso. Alam natin pag tinuloy natin ang ganitong MECQ o ganitong restriction magsa-stabilize tayo,” said Health Spokesperson Maria Rosario Vergeire.

The Private Hospitals Association of the Philippines (PHAP) is also in favor of extending the MECQ.

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DOH, hospital group in favor of extending MECQ

According to PHAP president Dr. Rene de Grano, no matter how good the ECQ and MECQ have been, one should not be complacent.

“Sana po siguro mas magandang i-extend muna ang MECQ dahil po pagka nagkaroon tayo ng panibagong surge baka hindi na kayanin ng ating health care system,” he said.

The total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in the Philippines reached over 1 million this Monday.

The Philippines is now the 26th country in the world to record more than 1 million cases while second in Southeast Asia.

This is after the Department of Health (DOH) recorded 8,929 additional cases for a total of 1,006,428.

Of that number, 74,623 are active cases or remain ill.

The total number of recoveries rose to 914,952 after the DOH reported 11,333 new recoveries on Monday.

The  toll also increased by 70 for a total of 16,853.

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