PRESIDENT Duterte late Monday night said he is likely to lift the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) in Luzon as soon as a treatment for the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) becomes available in local pharmacies.
The catch, though, is that the supposed antibody medicine is still being prepared by a big pharmaceutical company and might only be available by May.
“Meron ng medisina, antibody, ang isang giant pharmaceuticals. Sabi by May baka they would start to market it, ipabili na nila. Kung meron na iyan, tapos makita ko na ginagamit na ng tao, ili-lift ko (ang ECQ). Tutal kung magkasakit kayo, may antibodies naman tayo mabili. Ngayon, kung wala kang mabili, problema mo na iyan kasi tapos na iyung… I will lift the quarantine (There is already a medicine, a giant pharmaceutical has an antibody. They said they would start to market it by May, they would sell it. If that is available, and I can already see people using it, I will lift the lockdown. Since even if you get sick, there are already antibodies that you can buy. Now if you cannot buy it, that is your problem, (but) I will lift the quarantine),” he said.
Duterte did not provide any detail about the treatment he was referring to but he stressed the importance of antibodies in fighting viruses in the body.
He noted that in previous outbreaks in the country like the SARS-CoV-1 in 2003 and the MERS-COV in 2012, health officials used convalescent plasma, which contain antibodies and were taken from persons who have recovered from the infections, and used this to help other patients suffering from the same illness.
Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles, concurrent spokesman of the Inter-Agency Task Force on the Management of Emerging Infection Diseases (IATF-EID), said the President has neither discussed the details nor shared information about the treatment he was referring to, with the Cabinet.
Reappointed presidential spokesman Harry Roque, in a briefing, said what was discussed during the IATF meeting were some of the proposals from Finance Secretary Carlo Dominguez III and Presidential Adviser on Entrepreneurship Joey Concepcion, like the provision of subsidy for middle-income and small and medium enterprise employers and employees, a gradual lifting of the lockdown or easing of community quarantine in some areas, and the resumption of operations of certain industries like manufacturing.
The President said that while the lockdown remains in effect, the public should continue to stay at home and observe measures such as social distancing, wearing of masks and washing of hands.
“We do not know how this will end, when. But for lack of a better way of protecting the people, that is except by asking you to go inside your houses, with my assurance that when the antibody that’s being, as I said it has passed the medical tests or the clinical test, it’s ready to be sold by May. If I see that we already have supply then I am ready to lift (the lockdown),” Duterte said.
Metro Manila had been under community quarantine since March 15 while Luzon had been under enhanced community quarantine since March 17.
Peace Adviser and National Task Force (NTF) COVID-19 chief implementer Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. said government strategies to fight the coronavirus disease may last until September to December this year if it takes into consideration the current relapse and re-infection happening in other countries.
Galvez, in an interview by radio dzMM, cited as example the COVID relapse and re-installing of lockdowns in Singapore and South Korea.
He reiterated that the government is still discussing the April 30 deadline and what it could expect after the lockdown is lifted.
He said a gradual or calibrated lifting of the lockdown may be considered as he emphasized the need to still strictly observe the home quarantine rules, social and physical distancing, and wearing of masks.
“To tell you frankly, mukhang ang preparation natin siguro September hanggang December (To tell you frankly, our preparation may last until September to December),” he said.
Galvez asked for everyone’s cooperation and understanding as he said that having a vaccine would be the game changer that can end the coronavirus crisis.
LOCKDOWN EXTENSION 2.0
Senate President Vicente Sotto III said he would rather have a continued lockdown if there is still no clear solution to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“I would rather play the conservative card and side with a continuing lockdown if no clear evidence of a solution to the virus is in sight. Better safe than sorry!” Sotto said.
Sen. Imee Marcos said she favors a partial lifting of the ECQ after April 30.
“(I) suspect (that) only partial easing may be allowed at the end of the month. Doctors have been warning of a second wave of infection (that) has occurred in some countries, sometime more virulent that first infections,” Marcos said.
If government imposes a partial lockdown, Marcos said only essential businesses must be opened, including those engaged in the production of medical supplies, importation and distribution of goods, food chain sectors, essential transportation and communication, general services and maintenance.
She said provinces without cases of COVID-19 should be given the discretion whether to impose ECQ or not “so they may even provide NCR’s food, personnel and other requirements.” — With Raymond Africa
