These NCR cities may be placed under GCQ after May 15

MANILA, Philippines – Some cities in the National Capital Region (NCR) may be placed under general community quarantine (GCQ) once the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) ends on May 15, Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Eduardo M. Año said on Thursday, May 7.
NCR cities may be placed under GCQ after May 15

“There are areas already in Metro Manila that are actually improving like San Juan and Valenzuela but Quezon City is still really what we call a very high-risk area with the 1,000 positive,” Año said in interview on ANC.

“Some cities in Metro Manila may be downgraded into GCQ but we still have eight days to go so we wait for data analytics,” the Interior Secretary added.

San Juan Mayor Francis Zamora earlier said that COVID-19 infections in his locality had already peaked.

Areas classified as having low to moderate risk of a COVID-19 outbreak may be placed under a GCQ. The decision also depends on health system capacity and economic factors.

Summary: conditions under general community quarantine
  • workers and sectors in category I, II and III may continue to work or operate in phases;
  • the general population may go out of their homes only for purposes of accessing basic necessities;
  • in any case, those with ages below 21 years old and those 60 years old and above as well as those with ages ranging from 21 years olf but below 60 years old but who reside with co-morbidities or other risk factors shall stay home;
  • non-leisure stores in malls and shopping centers may partially open;
  • higher education institutions may continue classes to finish the academic year and issue credentials to students in accordance with guidelines as may be issued by the Commission on Higher Education;
  • priority and essential construction projects may resume in accordance with guidelines as may be issued by the DPWH;
  • public transportation may operate at a reduced capacity in accordace with guidelines as may be issued by the DOTr;
  • local government units shall enforce curfew at night for non-workers; and
  • airports and seaports may operate insofar as the unhampered movement of goods.

“Nagshi-shift na tayo ng strategy na from lockdown to modified kasi mayroon nga tayong tumataas na [testing] capacity,” Año said.

“Kung ma-hit natin ‘yung kahit 20,000 [tests daily] muna by May 15, ‘di mo na kailangang mag-ECQ kasi you can unmask the virus before it can spread,” he added.

Metro Manila is considered as a hotspot of coronavirus cases in the country, with 3,745 cases. It was followed by Central Visayas or Region 7 with 1,177 and CALABARZON with 606.

As of Thursday, the Philippines has recorded 10,343 cases of COVID-19, with the number of those surviving from the disease reaching 1,618, outnumbering the 658 reported deaths.

— The Summit Express


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