A DAY after the Department of Health pushed for an extension of the modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) in the NCR Plus, Interior Secretary Eduardo Ano yesterday said the extension is needed to sustain the gains of the two-week ECQ from March 29 to April 11.
Ano, a key member of the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID), said: “For me, let us extend a little longer the MECQ so that the good trend will continue. We are now in a better situation.”
He noted reports that the positivity rate in Metro Manila and the provinces of Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna and Rizal had improved to 17 percent and the health care utilization is now at 70 percent.
The independent OCTA Research Team said it is also in favor of an extension of the MECQ in the NCR Plus area.
“In agreement with the Department of Health, the Philippine College of Physicians, and the Philippine Hospital Association, we urge the national government to extend the MECQ over the NCR Plus for at least one more week,” said OCTA Research on late Tuesday.
Meanwhile, presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque yesterday said the IATF has agreed to restrict starting April 29 (Thursday) the entry of travelers from India or those with travel history to India within the last 14 days preceding to their arrival to the country.
Passengers already in transit from India and those who have been there within 14 days immediately preceding their arrival to the Philippines and who would arrive before April 29 shall not be subject to the restriction, but shall be required to undergo stricter quarantine and testing protocols. — With Jocelyn Montemayor
