OCTA: Heightened GCQ in NCR ineffective, 2-week lockdown urged

The OCTA Research group called on the government to implement a two-week lockdown because general community quarantine (GCQ) implementation with heightened restrictions in Manila is not effective.

On Teleradyo, OCTA Research fellow Ranjit Rye said the number of cases in Metro Manila is still rising, reaching 1,000 from 600 cases in the past two weeks.

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Rye insists it is inevitable not to lockdown due to the threat of the Delta variant, so it is better to do it early.

The COVID-19 cases should also be treated as Delta variants today to ensure that they do not spread.

For Rye, it would also be more in favor of the country’s economy if the lockdown is implemented sooner.

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“Kung lumala ito baka pati ‘yung 4th quarter, madale po. Ang question na nire-raise ng OCTA, when do we lockdown? Pagka 5,000 na ang kaso gaya noong ginawa natin noong March na nagsara tayo ng 2 buwan? O gagawin natin ng maaga para mas maiksi ang lockdown at mas maraming hindi mahahawa at may pagkakataon na walang mamatay? So ‘yun ang choice natin ngayon,” said Rye.

According to the Department of Health, there are 119 recorded cases of Delta variant in the country, of which 12 are active.

OCTA: Heightened GCQ in NCR ineffective, 2-week lockdown urged

But the agency reiterated that they have yet to see any reason to re-declare a lockdown.

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DOH Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said there had been no surge yet, as OCTA Research says.

The DOH respects other experts but said it should slow down the surge and lockdown because it alarms the public.

For Vergeire, there are many things to consider in declaring a lockdown, especially in the ECQ classification, where thousands are expected to lose their jobs.

According to the DOH, the NCR is still at a moderate risk level and is not yet at the threshold to say that the number of cases is rising.

“We do not want to sound an alarmist na nagpa-panic na yung buong bayan dahil dito. Kailangan natin i-communicate yung risk ng maayos, hindi po natin pwedeng gawin na pinagpapanic yung mga tao. Gusto natin maghanda tayo lahat, maghahanda po tayo. Pero we need to be very objective in this situation that we are in because we are considering all factors,” said Vergeire.

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