According to a health professional, the relaxation of the quarantine classification in NCR Plus should not be rushed, especially since the increase in COVID-19 cases is still felt.
“Wag nating hintayin na bumalik ulit tayo doon sa Marso wherein magtatawag na naman ang gobyerno natin ng total lockdown. I hope na i-maintain na lang muna siguro natin ngayon. Anyway, nakakalabas naman ang mga tao. I don’t think we need to be in a hurry sa paglo-loosen up ng ating quarantine measures,” said Dr. Maricar Limpin, president of Philippine College of Physicians.
In an interview with TeleRadyo on Friday, Limpin said the government should consider maintaining the current quarantine classification for now because they are once again noticing the increase in COVID-19 cases in hospitals.
“I can really say this, maski dito sa ospital kung saan ako affiliated, yung ICU namin napuno na naman tapos yung regular COVID wards namin puno rin. May hintayan na naman bago namin pwedeng i-admit ang mga pasyente. Ibig sabhin, medyo tumataas,” said Limpin.
Limpin said that at the Philippine Heart Center where he is an affiliate, their occupancy rate in the ICU is already 100 percent.
Relaxation of quarantine status in NCR should not be rushed
“If you look at the daily rates natin medyo tumataas din. Itong mga pagtaas na ito hindi lang natin nakikita dahil yung Mindanao at saka sa Visayas medyo tumaas din sila pero dito maski sa NCR nararamdaman na rin namin. Dapat maghinay-hinay muna. I hope the government, yung IATF, will consider this,” he said.
NCR Plus is currently under general community quarantine with restrictions until June 15. But it is possible to ease it next week due to the improving COVID-19 data in Metro Manila.
According to the Department of Health on Thursday, the Philippines recorded a total of 1,293,687 cases of COVID-19, of which 56,921 were active infections. Utilization of ICU beds in NCR is at 49 percent.
“Ok tayo na imaintain lang muna natin ngayon yung whatever we are doing right now and sana higpitan pa natin yung contact tracing at saka medyo may konting restrictions a little bit more restriction doon sa travel within the country kasi yan po ang nagiging dahilan kung bakit tumataas din ang COVID sa ating mga probinsiya,” said Limpin.
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