WITH coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases continuously improving in the National Capital Region (NCR), the independent OCTA Research Team yesterday urged the national government to “seriously consider” further easing restrictions in Metro Manila by June.
In a television interview, OCTA Research fellow Guido David said they believe there is already enough basis to downgrade the community restrictions in the NCR, which is currently under general community quarantine (GCQ) “with heightened restrictions” until the end of May.
“We believe that the national government should seriously consider easing some restrictions in the NCR, while keeping an eye of possible risk elements,” said David.
He, however, stressed that easing restrictions must not be a total lifting of limits in population movement.
“We don’t recommend easing all the restrictions all at once. We’ve always recommended easing restrictions gradually,” said David, adding: “We want to avoid situations like the pool party in NCR, wherein there were a lot of people who got infected. Those are situations that can seriously threaten our pandemic management in NCR. Situations like that must be avoided.”
“But as far as reopening businesses and expanding capacity of offices is concerned, that is something we can do,” added David.
David said the seven-day average new cases in the NCR is now at 1,100 as compared to the 5,300 during the surge in early April. “This is why we have downgraded the risk classification of NCR to moderate risk from high risk” he said.
David also said that the current COVID-19 reproduction rate in the NCR is down to 0.57.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has said that the target is to maintain COVID-19’s reproduction rate at below 1.
The OCTA fellow also noted how the region’s positivity rate is down to 10 percent. The WHO’s recommendation is to keep the positivity rate below 5 percent.
On Monday, the Department of Health (DOH) said that while NCR cases are already going down, Metro Manila is “not out of the woods yet” as the threat of reversing the trend is still present.
SUPERSPREADERS
PNP chief Gen. Guillermo Eleazar yesterday ordered police units to be on the lookout for superspreader events amid recent mass gatherings and violations of health protocols in Quezon City and Norzagaray town in Bulacan.
“I am reminding all our police commanders to be on alert and strictly monitor your areas of responsibility to prevent mass gatherings and ensure the observance of minimum public health safety standards,” said Eleazar.
“No superspreader events should be held in our AOR (area of responsibility),” added Eleazar.
Eleazar says police units should closely coordinate with local government units, particularly the barangays, to prevent mass gathering and community quarantine violations.
Fifty-four persons tested positive for COVID-19 after taking part in a pool party and drinking session in Barangay Nagkaisang Nayon in Quezon City early this month.
Last Sunday, Bulacan policemen issued citation tickets to 75 people for swimming and violating health protocols at the Bakas river in Norzagagay town. Barangay officials reportedly allowed the swimming and even collected entrance fee from the violators.
Eleazar reminded the public that mass gatherings are still not allowed in areas under general community quarantine or GCQ. “Even if the number of COVID-19 cases is declining in NCR, this does not mean that we should be complacent already because the threat of COVID-19 is still there,” said Eleazar.
PALAWAN
Coron town in Palawan will again reopen for tourism starting today, town Mayor Mario Reyes Jr. said yesterday.
During the Laging Handa press briefing, Reyes said he was set to meet with members of the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging and Infectious Diseases later on Tuesday to finalize the details.
Reyes said the town will be opened to local tourists, except eight barangays that have been on localized lockdown since May 12. The town has a total of 23 barangays.
Reyes said he would recommend that tourist arrivals be limited to sea travel only. “We will recommend that the airport, remain closed until the COVID-19 pandemic is over,” he said.
Reyes said Coron has a total of 152 COVID-19 infections but there were only three cases reported last Monday.
Tourism in Coron was first reopened in December but was recently closed due to an increase in cases. — With Victor Reyes
