Extend MECQ or GCQ: New quarantine status after May 14

MANILA, Philippines – The National Capital Region and four adjacent provinces (NCR Plus) and other areas currently under the modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) will be placed under a new classification after May 14, Malacañang said on Thursday.

“Magbabago po ng quarantine classification. Kung meron mang pagbabago ay ang mga lugar under MECQ (There will be changes in quarantine classification. The changes will be applied to areas under MECQ),” Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said in a virtual presser.

READ: NCR Plus shifts to GCQ with heightened restrictions

President Rodrigo Duterte is expected to announce the new quarantine classifications in the country after his meeting with the members of the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) on Thursday night.

President Rodrigo Roa Duterte
President Rodrigo Roa Duterte talks to the people after holding a meeting with the Inter-Agency Task Force on the Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) core members. Photo Credit: PCOO

Roque added that the decision is based on COVID-19 daily attack rate, two-week average attack rate, and healthcare utilization rate.

With the significant drop of COVID-19 infections, Roque believes the possible shift to a more permissive general community quarantine (GCQ) after May 14.

“So needless to say, ang rekomendasyon po ay sang-ayon sa ating overall stratehiya na dahan-dahan na pagbubukas ng ekonomiya para makamit ang total health (our recommendation is based on our overall strategy to gradually reopen our economy to achieve total health),” Roque said.

The NCR Plus (Metro Manila and provinces of Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna, and Rizal), Quirino, Abra, Ifugao, the City of Santiago in Isabela, and Zamboanga City are under MECQ until May 14.

Metro mayors reach decision on new quarantine status

The Metro Manila Council (MMC), composed of the 17 mayors in the National Capital Region (NCR) and other national government officials, have reached a consensus on the quarantine status in the region come May 15.

“After a thorough consideration of all factors presented such as hospitals' capacity, the arrival of vaccines, decrease in the number of new Covid-19 (coronavirus disease) cases, and present economic conditions, the NCR mayors have come up with its recommendation as to the quarantine status come May 15,” Abalos said.

The decision, which the MMC has decided to remain confidential, will be presented as a recommendation to the IATF-EID in its meeting today.

— The Summit Express



Add a comment here (0)
Previous Post Next Post