The OCTA Research Group favors easing quarantine restrictions in NCR Plus (Metro Manila, Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna, and Rizal provinces) due to the decrease in COVID-19 cases in the areas.
In an interview this Sunday on Teleradyo, Dr. Guido David supported OCTA’s proposal to place NCR Plus in ordinary general community quarantine (GCQ).
Aside from the decrease in cases, the reproduction rate also dropped to 0.72 in Metro Manila, while the positivity rate also dropped to 8 percent.
OCTA, comprised of experts conducting studies on COVID-19 data, also agrees with easing some establishments and adding industries that can operate.
“Sinu-support natin ‘yan because at this time, gumaganda naman ang situation sa NCR… We can take some risks na pagbubukas ng businesses. So far, wala pa naman tayong nakikita community transmission sa businesses,” said David.
Malacañang had earlier said that it is possible to put NCR Plus in the ordinary GCQ.
According to David, the local governments of Bacolod, Dumaguete, Tacloban, and Iloilo should also be on the lookout now for the COVID-19 cases.
Experts favor easing quarantine restrictions on NCR Plus
He said the number of COVID-19 cases in Davao City has slightly decreased.
According to David, the number of cases in Metro Manila is decreasing due to the implementation of strict quarantine restrictions and not due to the vaccination rollout.
Also added, according to David, is the focus on hospitalization rate and intensification of contact tracing.
For ABS-CBN data analytics head Edson Guido, it will be more helpful if the general community quarantine with restrictions in NCR Plus is maintained first.
According to Guido, when comparing the data with the pre-surge days from January to February, NCR has only 430 cases per day.
Today, NCR cases hit 850 cases per day, double the number before there was a surge or increase in cases in March and April.
“Para sa akin, kung may momentum, sana ma-maintain natin ‘yong momentum. At the same time, dagdagan natin ‘yong vaccine para tuluy-tuloy na,” said Guido.
“‘Yong Visayas ang kailangan talaga natin bantayan natin ngayon dahil tuluy-tuloy ‘yong pagtaas na nakikita natin,” he added.
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