Quarantine extension gains support

MANILA, Philippines, April 6 ------ From Vice President Leni Robredo to senators, opposition lawmakers and the secretary of the interior, there is growing support for the extension of the enhanced community quarantine but with restrictions gradually eased, and improved public health measures put in place. Interior Secretary Eduardo Año yesterday said the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases would meet today to discuss whether the Luzon-wide quarantine would be extended or modified to address the health crisis.

“As far as I am concerned, I think it’s better to continue the lockdown until we have flattened the curve, so we will not have any relapse,” he said in an interview. Año said the possible extension of the quarantine is the No. 1 agenda of the meeting so that they could come up with a recommendation before April 10. He said the lockdown is effective and the country needs to extend the strict quarantine measures to sustain its gains.

“Pinag-aaralan nila yung trend sa buong mundo at saka yung pag-aaral dito sa coronavirus. Sinasabi kasi nila na compared with other countries, we are really doing good now. Compared with US, Italy, Spain, Britain, we are really doing good because we have the lockdown,” he said in another interview with dzMM. He added that the government is trying to avoid a relapse wherein a second surge of infections could be harder to contain. The DILG chief said they are “still expecting the worse” as the confirmed cases in the country topped 3,000.

President Duterte placed the entire island of Luzon under enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) from March 17 to April 13 to contain the COVID-19, forcing a majority of the island’s more than 57 million residents to stay home and thousands of businesses to temporarily close shop. Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles said the recommendation on the lockdown would be based on various factors, including the country’s health system capacity, social, economic and security concerns, and the trends related to the spread of the disease. “Ultimately, President Duterte will decide. The task force’s recommendation will be based on scientific data and evidence and findings of our experts,” Nograles told radio station dzBB.

Peace adviser Carlito Galvez Jr., chief implementer of the national policy on COVID-19, previously said the quarantine period may be extended by 15 days. Health Secretary Francisco Duque III has also advised against easing existing quarantine measures.

Source: philstar.com