GOVT TO SET GUIDELINES ON LIFTING, EXTENSION OF QUARANTINE

THE government is readying the parameters on the possible lifting, extension or expansion of the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) in Luzon, a Palace official said on Tuesday.

Cabinet Secretary Karlo Alexei Nograles said the technical working group led by the Department of Health (DoH) has been ordered to prepare the guidelines.

“The IATF [ EID] Technical Working Group ( Inter- Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases TWG) to be led by the DoH is directed to convene and finalize the parameters for deciding on the eventual total or partial lifting of the ECQ in Luzon, the possible extension of its duration, or its expansion to other areas outside the contained area, subject to the approval, amendment or modification by the IATF,” Nograles said.

“Si la po ang mags e-setng parameters in order for us to determine kungn aging mag and a ba‘yung mg ah ak bang na gina g aw a (The TWG will set the parameters in order for us to determine whether the measures we took [against the coronavirus disease 2019 or Covid-19] are effective),” he added.

Nograles, who also serves as spokesman for the IATF-EID, denied anew rumors that the quarantine period will be extended.

Nograles said it was too early to tell if the strict quarantine protocols have flattened the Covid-19 curve.

“There are many ways we can help one another as we work to overcome this crisis together — but it all begins with staying home and taking all the necessary precautions to avoid spreading the virus,” he said.

Meanwhile, Nograles said the IATF- EID TWG has also been directed to formulate and present a decision tool for the management of overseas Filipino workers who might be repatriated through the efforts of the national government.