Palace warns of new lockdown
Follow health protocols to avoid reverting to ECQ – Roque
The government may be forced to impose a “lockdown” in some areas if people will ignore the quarantine rules and contribute to the spike of cases of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) infections, Malacañang said Tuesday.
Presidential spokesman Harry Roque said the shift to modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) in Metro Manila and other places is just “temporary” and “flexible,” saying it may change anytime depending on certain health and economic factors.
Roque appealed anew to the public to follow the health precautions, including the safe distancing rule, to prevent the spread of the coronavirus and prevent reverting to the more stringent enhanced community quarantine (ECQ).
“Ang pakiusap ko po, although we need to open the economy, ito naman po ang dahilan kung bakit tayo nag-MECQ, kinakailangan pa rin sundin pa rin iyong social distancing at iyong basic health considerations. Dahil kung hindi po ay talagang mapipilitan tayong bumalik sa ECQ, mapipilitan na naman tayong maglockdown. Dahil iyan po talaga ang sandata natin ngayon habang walang vaccine, habang walang gamot sa COVID-19 (Although we need to open the economy which is the reason we shifted to MECQ, I’m appealing that we must still follow social distancing and basic health considerations. If not, we will be forced to return to ECQ, we will be forced to go on lockdown. That's our weapon while there is no vaccine, no cure to COVID-19),” he said in an interview over CNN Philippines Tuesday.
In determining the quarantine classification of a place, he said the government will depend on the area's case doubling rate, critical care capacity of the local government unit, among others.
“We have made a warning po na alam naman ninyo iyong ating pagpunta sa MECQ that is very flexible po and that is temporary. Government is still guided by the doubling capacity, iyong pagkalat ng sakit at saka iyong kapasidad natin to provide critical care,” he said.
“So, kapag nag-increase na naman po iyong doubling capacity ng sakit and we don’t really have enough critical care capacity to treatment, baka babalik po tayo sa ECQ – it's the only way to control still the spread of the disease,” he added.
The government has placed Cebu City and Mandaue City under the enhanced community quarantine until the end of the month to stem the spread of the coronavirus.
From May 16 to May 31, Metro Manila, Bataan, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, Zambales, Angeles City and Laguna are under modified ECQ wherein public transportation remain suspended but more businesses are allowed to partially open. These are considered high-risk places of the coronavirus infection.
All moderate and low-risk areas meanwhile have been placed under the more relaxed general community quarantine. Public transportation is allowed to operate at reduced capacity as more shops and services are allowed to reopen.
The Palace recently appealed for public cooperation in following the health rules after receiving reports that the public allegedly ignored certain distancing protocols during the partial reopening of malls over the weekend.
Roque said the public should not be complacent and instead observe the health rules for their own safety. He said the quarantine restrictions have been gradually eased to revitalize the economy and “and not because we are safe”.
As the government ramps up testing efforts, Roque urged the public to stay at home and go out only for essential work and activities such as market runs. “We must continue to be vigilant of the risks of COVID-19, conduct proper hygiene, wear face mask or face shield, and observe social or physical distancing,” he said in a recent statement.