Palace hints reversion to MECQ

That’s a distinct possibility although it’s a possibility that I wish would not happen because we all know that while we have to contain the disease, we also need to re-start our livelihoods

Metro Manila could revert to modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) if the national coronavirus tally breaches the 85,000mark by end-July as projected by University of the Philippines (UP) statisticians, the Palace said Wednesday.

Presidential spokesman Harry Roque hinted of more stringent lockdown measures in the National Capital Region — considered the epicenter of the coronavirus outbreak — as the government tallied 70,764 cases on Tuesday.

“That’s a distinct possibility although it’s a possibility that I wish would not happen because we all know that while we have to contain the disease, we also need to re-start our livelihoods,” Roque said in a live television broadcast.

He noted the economy has suffered from the imposition of large-scale lockdowns and acknowledged the government can no longer afford to restrict economic activities again.

“We’ve come to a very crucial point where I think the economy can no longer afford to shut down anew. But if we have to and there’s no alternative, we need to do it,” he said.

A team of experts from UP estimated the COVID-19 cases in the country c brouldeach the 85,000 mark with 2,200 deaths by 31 July. This was based on the assumption the virus’ reproduction number remains and government intervention measures are not altered significantly.

We’ve come to a very crucial point where I think the economy can no longer afford to shut down anew.

President Duterte originally approved the recommendation to place Metro Manila under MECQ from 16 to 31 July had not National Task Force Carlito Galvez and Interior Secretary Eduardo Año appealed to reconsider the decision.

The authorities have tallied up to 2,000 new cases of COVID-19 each day in recent weeks. If the trend continues, the projected infection number will be met.

“I wouldn’t say it’s something alarming, but it should concern all of us. So, I can only exhort people in fact, to take steps to minimize the spread of the disease. But on a macro level, we look at the death rate which is still very low,” Roque said.

He expressed confidence Filipinos would help fight against COVID-19 by heeding quarantine and health protocols designed to contain the disease.

The ongoing lockdowns thus far forced government to borrow P8.89 trillion to finance programs easing the effects of the coronavirus pandemic, including the largest social amelioration program in history. Some 17.9 million beneficiaries have received the first tranche of the cash aid amounting to P100 billion.