Modifying the quarantine

Walking a tightrope between lives and livelihoods, the government has decided to extend the enhanced community quarantine in Metro Manila and Laguna, with the fate of two other provinces to be known later this week. The ECQ, however, will be “modified” after May 15, to allow the gradual reopening of the economy in the National Capital Region after two months of quarantine.

So far, various degrees of quarantines and lockdowns nationwide to contain the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic have rendered 2.5 million Filipinos jobless, according to the Department of Labor and Employment. Overseas Filipino workers, forced out of jobs by the COVID-19 crisis in other countries, are also arriving in droves, looking for alternative sources of livelihood.

With the start of the modified ECQ in Metro Manila, the country’s most densely populated region, the biggest danger is complacency. Wuhan City in China, where the COVID-19 virus originated and which became the epicenter of the pandemic in that country, reported six new infections over the weekend – the first cases since the city lifted its lockdown. New cases have also been reported in countries such as South Korea and Germany after they eased restrictions. France, which began easing lockdown measures last Monday, also recorded at least nine COVID cases linked to a funeral.

In Metro Manila, its police commander himself has set a bad example of complacency if not outright flouting of quarantine rules even before the ECQ is modified. Maj. Gen. Debold Sinas entertained a large gathering for his birthday celebration on May 8 at Camp Bagong Diwa. Photos of the party showed guests – clearly numbering more than the ECQ limit of 10 persons – digging into the food, unmindful of physical distancing.

As in the earlier case of a COVID-infected Sen. Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III visiting the Makati Medical Center, those tasked to enforce quarantine rules prefer to see no evil in the case of Sinas. Little wonder that the killer disease is spreading among members of the Philippine National Police, with Camp Karingal, headquarters of the Quezon City Police District, placed under lockdown. Such irresponsible behavior gives urgency to warnings against easing restrictions and relying on self-discipline to fight the contagion as the country reopens for business.