INTERIOR Secretary Eduardo Año yesterday grumbled that some local government units have not been aggressively implementing the national government’s new quarantine regulations, which he said has been a major factor in the continued surge in COVID-19 infections in the country.
Año, a key member of the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID), said the inability of LGUs to move infected residents from cramped houses and crowded communities have led to the faster spread of the coronavirus.
“Nakita namin ‘yung pinakamalaking problema ‘yung pagho-home quarantine ng mga positive persons, dapat ay nandyan talaga sila sa mga COVID isolation facilities (Home quarantine of positive persons is the biggest problem, they should be brought to COVID isolation facilities),” Año said.
The IATF has announced that home quarantine is only allowed for patients who have a separate room and restroom in their house, and those who do not live with vulnerable individuals such as the elderly, children or those who are immuno-compromised or who have co-morbidities.
If any of the three requirements is not met, the sick resident shall be moved to a government quarantine facility for proper isolation.
“Marami pa ring naka-home quarantine na dapat ay na-isolate na dapat sa mga isolation facilities (Many are still on home quarantine, and they are supposed to be in isolation centers),” Año complained.
Año warned the public that community transmission will continue at a faster phase if sick residents are not removed from their homes because their continued stay in their houses would only lead to infection of other household members.
In Pateros which the task force recently visited, Año said there are 120 patients who are on home quarantine. “By this time, we have already transferred all of them (to isolation facilities),” he said.
“It is surprising in Laguna when we went there, 73 percent (of COVID-19 patients) are on home quarantine. If you have a small house, you cannot really isolate yourself properly,” he also said.
Año said he said he expects an improvement in COVID-19 cases in the country this week with the declaration of the modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) in Metro Manila, Cavite, Laguna, Rizal and Bulacan.
“I believe we’re going to feel the gradual decline of cases this week,” he said, adding that effect of the MECQ could not have been felt immediately.
“Some quarters think that the moment you declare ECQ, the problem is already solved.
That is not the case. You still have to do all interventions, implement rules, regulations under MECQ before that can happen,” Año said.
ABUSES
Joint Task Force COVID Shield chief Lt. Gen. Guillermo Eleazar decried how some people who have been given quarantine exemption have been abusing the privilege.
Eleazar, the PNP deputy chief for operations, cited ground reports that police personnel assigned in quarantine community points (QCPs) or checkpoints have been having confrontations with people who are listed under the Authorized Persons Outside of Residence (APOR) but have been abusing their travel exemptions.
Eleazar said complaints indicated that some APORs have been going out of their residence for non-essential or non-work-related travels.
“The main and only reason behind the exemption from community quarantine is for them to go to their places of work because the nature of their jobs is essential to provide the basic goods and services to our people under community quarantine, and for them to go back to their homes. However, we have been receiving reports from our personnel on the ground that there are some abuses committed since those given exemption is using it to travel anywhere they want and anytime they want which are basically violations of the existing quarantine rules,” he said.
Under the IATF’s APOR list, those who are authorized to leave their homes are frontliners or workers of industries already allowed to operate.
Meanwhile, the main building of the Bulacan provincial capitol will be on a one-week lockdown, starting today, after three employees recently tested positive for COVID-19.
“This temporary closure is necessary to protect provincial government employees as well as the general public who regularly and continuously visit the Capitol offices for various services,” said Bulacan Gov. Daniel Fernando.
