Metro Manila mayors, OCTA favor normal GCQ

Metro Manila mayors are already discussing the possibility of placing the National Capital Region under normal general community quarantine (GCQ) starting June 16.

This is due to the large number of people who have been vaccinated, especially now that vaccination sites of the A-4 category, which includes essential workers from the private sector, government, and workers from the informal sector and the self-employed, are opened.

Even the independent OCTA Research Group wants to lower the quarantine restriction in Metro Manila to the “ordinary” GCQ following the continued drop in new COVID-19 cases in the region.

“Sinusupport 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 OCTA member Prof. Guido David.

According to their data, only 27% of new COVID-19 cases come from Metro Manila, from 97% during the height of the surge between March 29 and April 4.

Metro Manila mayors, OCTA favor normal GCQ

The reproduction rate has also dropped to 0.72, which is now less than 1, the positivity rate has also dropped to 8%, and the hospitalization rate is at a safe level of 40%.

Despite this, OCTA admitted that the threat of another surge of cases remains, so large gatherings of people in Metro Manila and Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna and Rizal should be better guarded.

NCR Plus was first placed on GCQ with restrictions from June 1 to 15, 2021.

Meanwhile, Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said Monday that NCR Plus is still unlikely to be placed under modified general community quarantine (MGCQ) after June 15.

Instead, NCR Plus — or Metro Manila, Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna, and Rizal — is likely to be placed under “ordinary” GCQ starting June 16.

NCR Plus is under GCQ “with restrictions” until June 15.

“Ang problema po natin mataas pa rin yung actual numbers, hindi pa tayo nakakabalik sa mga numero natin bago pumasok ang new variants [The problem is our numbers have yet to return to that level before the emergence of new coronavirus variants],” said Roque.