MALACAÑANG is not inclined to heighten the quarantine classification of Metro Manila even amid the significant increase of COVID-19 cases which breached the 50,000 mark on Wednesday.
Interior Secretary Eduardo Año, a key member of the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID), said the government will instead improve localized lockdowns of affected areas to contain the spread of the virus.
Asked if it was possible to put Metro Manila back to modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) from the current general community quarantine (GCQ), Año said the IATF has already discussed this with Metro Manila mayors.
“Ang direction natin ay economic recovery or buksan ulit ‘yung kabuhayan (Our direction is economic recovery or re-open the economy),” said Año.
Año said the government wants a faster lockdown of a household, building, street, community, subdivision or even a barangay when fresh infections are reported in these areas.
“Ang kailangan talaga dito mabilis na aksyon. Hindi kasi puwede na kapag meron nang cases ay saka ka palang kikilos after three days (What we need is fast action. We cannot afford to wait three days before taking action)”, he said, adding the delayed lockdown only leaves contact tracing more difficult.
Año also noted that the government has already built up “enough health capacities” in the fight against the pandemic.
“Marami na tayong testing capacity or testing kits, laboratories. Marami na rin tayong na set aside na mga COVID beds, ICU beds at designated COVID hospital (We have enough testing capacity or testing kits, laboratories. We have also set aside enough COVID beds, ICU beds and designated COVID hospitals),” he said.
“Meron na rin tayong isolation facilities, maganda na rin ‘yung contact tracing so ibig sabihin because of our lockdown for the last three months, nakapag-build tayo ng ganitong capacity, kaya natin magbukas ng economy (We also have isolation facilities, we have good contract tracing. Because of our lockdown for the last three months, we were able to build this capacity, we’re ready to re-open economy),” he added.
Año said there is a “big chance” Cebu City will graduate from its current ECQ status due to the improved COVID-19 situation in the city.
“Puwedeng pumunta na sila ng MECQ or even GCQ depende sa mga data analytics natin pero nakita talaga natin ‘yung remarkable change sa Cebu City (They can proceed to MECQ or even GCQ, depending on our data analytics but we have seen a remarkable change in Cebu City),” he said.
CEBU CITY
Año attributed the success in Cebu City to the government’s pouring of attention and resources to address the growing number of COVID-19 infection in the Visayan metropolis.
He gave credit to Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu, who had been assigned by President Duterte to supervise the campaign against COVID-19 in Cebu City. “His commitment and dedication is really exceptional,” he said of Cimatu.
Health undersecretary Leopoldo Vega said the COVID-19 situation in Cebu City had greatly improved since it was placed under ECQ for the past month, resulting in lower positivity and mortality rates.
“We cannot yet say that (downgrade to GCQ), because it’s too early to say. But if it continues to progress, the matrix will decrease and Cebu City will improve. That will be discussed by the IATF whether to downgrade Cebu City to GCQ,” he said.
The DOH official is in Cebu City to monitor the critical care response of the city and to inspect several public and private hospitals in the area.
He said Cebu City now has a “better response and capacity.”
Vega said private hospitals were required to allot at least 20 percent of their beds for COVID-19 patients, with an additional 10 percent of beds in case of a surge in cases, while public hospitals like the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center was required to allot more than 30 percent of its beds for coronavirus patients.
He said the government hopes that hospitals would raise their COVID-19 bed to 50 to 60 percent in case of a surge in cases
Vega expressed confidence that Cebu City can realize this because there is still enough human resource and equipment available to ensure the immediate treatment of critical and severe patients.
He also emphasized the need to continue the improvement of the critical care system in the city in anticipation of the reopening of its economy.
Only Cebu City had been placed under ECQ until July 15 due to its high number of positive cases and declining critical care capacity.
Health Secretary Francisco Duque III on Monday night reported to President Duterte that the COVID-19 case doubling rate in Cebu City was less than seven days, isolation bed utilization already at 90.6 percent and intensive care unit beds use at 84.46.
The President reiterated that the “nonchalant” attitude of Cebuanos, especially during the critical days of the pandemic, led to the current situation in the city. He complained that some people continued to engage in gambling, drinking in the streets and partying despite the COVID situation.
Cebu City Vice Mayor Rama said his constituents appreciate the frank statements of the President and look at it as a challenge to do better and overcome the pandemic.
“We will be seeing light at the end of the tunnel and wishing that the President will no longer say that we are hard-headed. We will definitely be taking it as a positive challenge and insight, it will give us a lesson to really be united and prove that we can be one in attacking this COVID-19,” Rama said during a virtual briefing with Roque. —With Jocelyn Montemayor
