The Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) said Sunday Metro Manila could ease to Modified General Community quarantine (MGCQ) soon if local government units (LGUs) could quickly respond to the surge in COVID-19 cases in their areas.
Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles, who co-chairs the IATF, made the announcement three days before the General Community Quarantine (GCQ) imposed in Metro Manila ends on Wednesday.
Nograles, in an interview with Super Radyo DZBB, said Metro Manila could be closer to the so-called “new normal.”
“There are two ways of thinking about it. Number one, pwede naman basta mas mabilis ang localized response ng mga LGUs (it is possible as long as LGUs are quick to respond),” he said.
“‘Pag itong lugar na ito ay dapat, dahil nagspa-spike o nagsu-surge diyan, dapat mabilis ang pag-aksyon, i-ko-community quarantine mo ‘yan for 14 days ganyan,” he added.
(If a particular area has a sudden spike or surge of COVID19 cases, LGUs should act quickly and place it under a community quarantine for 14 days.)
The IATF co-chair also said the National Capital Region could also remain under GCQ, but mayors would be authorized to place specific areas under localized community quarantine.
Nograles, however, said the decision is still up to President Rodrigo Duterte on July 15.
“It really depends. Kaya pagdating ng oras na malapit na sa pagdedesisyon ang Pangulo, bibigyan namin siya ng options,” he said.
(We will give the President options when the time comes that he has to make a decision.)
Also read: Finance chief: Place Metro Manila, CALABARZON under MGCQ soon
Home quarantine discouraged
The IATF is now discouraging home quarantine since the virus is being transmitted at a faster rate under this process.
“Malaking chances na magkahawaan doon sa kanyang pamilya o kung saan siya nakatira. So we’re now shifting na kung mahawa, kahit na asymptomatic, mas bibigyan natin ng priority yung mag facility quarantine,” Nograles said.
(There are higher chances of spreading the disease in the area where the patient lives. So we’re now shifting. Even if that person is asymptomatic, we will prioritize facility quarantine.)
“So yun yung ating mas ifo-focus ngayon na hindi na masyado sa home quarantine. Mayroong mga cases dapat, facility quarantine na sila,” he said.
(We’ll shift our focus away from home quarantine. There really are cases that require facility quarantine.)