‘STRICTER QUARANTINE UNLIKELY’
Current measures to remain as economy needs to recover, says Philippine presidential spokesman
THE Philippines will not enforce stricter quarantine measures this month despite the rise in new Covid-19 cases as the economy needs to recover.
In a report by the Inquirer.net portal, presidential spokesman Harry Roque said on Monday that the health authorities could still control the situation.
“For March, I don’t think it is called for,” he said at Malacañang during a press briefing.
He was asked if there would be a shift to stricter enhanced community quarantine or a modified version of it amid the rising number of Covid-19 cases.
He said the decision on quarantine levels was based on data.
He added that 60 per cent of Intensive Care Unit beds, 65 per cent of isolation beds, 75 per cent of ward beds and 77 per cent of ventilators were available.
“Let us say that the number of cases is rising, but we can also see that we are ready to treat those who would be seriously ill, which would be two to three per cent of those who would be infected.”
He said another lockdown would
not be good for the economy.
“Truth be told, we can no longer take a lockdown. So many are going hungry.
“So our appeal is to take care of ourselves so that we can earn a living.”
Former health secretary Dr Manuel Dayrit said the country need not be placed under stricter quarantine if health standards were strictly enforced and the
vaccination drive was sped up.
He said current infection levels were projected by health experts back in December based on a model where people’s mobility rate increased by 75 per cent or above and compliance with health standards dropped by 75 to 95 per cent.
The drop in compliance “can be fixed”, Dayrit said, but reducing mobility, which means stricter
curbs, must be balanced with the government’s policy of opening up the economy.
For March, Metro Manila, Baguio City, Apayao, Kalinga, Mountain Province, Batangas, Tacloban City, Iligan City, Davao City and Lanao del Sur are under general community quarantine.
The rest of the country is under the least restrictive modified general community quarantine.