Gov't to swiftly change COVID-19 quarantine protocols as need arises

May 25 ------ The government will promptly change COVID-19 community quarantine protocols as the need arises, the Palace said Monday. Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque gave the response to the question on how long it would take the government to respond to a local government unit's request for a stricter quarantine protocol. "The process is swift, and we need not wait for a meeting as seen in the case of Iloilo city," Roque said. He was referring to the government's action placing Iloilo under a stricter modified enhanced community quarantine from May 23 to 31 after the city government requested such due to 26 COVID-19 cases recorded among city hall employees from May 1 to 22.

Of the 26 case, two have died. "We look at two-week average attack rate, daily attack rate, hospital care utilization rate ‘no. If the critical level is reached in these areas, we can immediately change to a stricter quarantine classification," Roque added. The spokesman then said that the national government can take action even without a request from the local government.

"While we tend to announce quarantine classifications on a monthly basis, we are strictly monitoring all regions and will not hesitate to take action without the need for a meeting when there is a pressing reason," Roque emphasized. "And learning from the experience of Cebu, if there is a shortage of health professionals, then we will apply the Cebu formula and deploy additional personnel to reinforce our medical frontliners in these areas," he added.

Source: gmanetwork.com