Palace notes drop in cases, hospital use rate
METRO Manila and the provinces of Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna and Rizal, collectively called the NCR Plus, may see a de-escalation of its quarantine classification to the normal general community quarantine (GCQ) after June 15 due to the continued drop in coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases and hospital utilization rate, presidential spokesman Harry Roque said yesterday.
Roque said the Interagency Task Force (IATF) for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases met Thursday afternoon to discuss the quarantine classifications in the bubble, as well as the activities and businesses that would be allowed to open or operate at a bigger capacity.
The NCR Plus is under GCQ with restrictions from June 1 to June 15. It was under GCQ with ‘heightened restrictions’ from May 15 to May 31, modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) from April 12 to May 14, and enhanced community quarantine from March 29 to April 11.
“For Metro Manila, the numbers are looking good; the hospital care utilization remains very low or at 53 (percent) in ICU (intensive care unit) beds. That is an important factor for escalation. So, I would say in fact that based on the figures, Metro Manila Plus might be looking at de-escalation,” Roque said in mixed English and Filipino.
He, however, said that it is not likely that NCR Plus would transition to the least strict modified general community quarantine (MGCQ) but “it could be to ordinary GCQ.”
Roque said the ICU bed utilization in Metro Manila is now at 53 percent, while isolation bed and ward bed use are at 39 percent and 37 percent, respectively.
The independent OCTA Research Team said the reproduction number in the NCR from May 31 to June 6 was already 0.74, while the one-week growth rate in new cases was at -11 percent and positivity rate was at 9 percent.
Roque said an IATF technical working group has submitted to the task force a recommendation on what activities and businesses should be allowed in the NCR Plus, which the body is expected to decide on during its meeting.
He said there were calls to already reopen gyms and indoor non-contact sports. Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez. Department has also previously recommended that indoor tourism activities be already permitted to boost the economy.
Lopez has also been asking the IATF to let fully vaccinated senior citizens to go out of their homes and visit shopping malls.
Under the GCQ with restrictions, only 18 to 65 year-olds are allowed to go out, while elders are permitted to go out only to buy essential supplies like food and medicines or go to work.
OCTA Research fellow Dr. Guido David said the trend in cases in the NCR Plus area is still too unpredictable for them to make an early recommendation on whether to retain the GCQ with restrictions classification or ease to MGCQ.
“Right now, the trend quickly changes. Just last week, we were on an unfavorable trend.
But now, we are on a downward trend,” said David. “Maybe, we could wait for the numbers further and then we can check… It is a matter for discussion within the next few days so let’s look at the numbers first,” he added.
David said OCTA continues to see a downward trend in the NCR Plus bubble.
“We’re happy about that because during the peak of the surge, there were really a lot of cases and the hospitals are full. Now, our hospitals are being decongested. We’re in the safe levels, and our positivity rate is improving,” said David.
OCTA Research fellow Prof. Ranjit Rye appealed to the public to continue adhering to health protocols as well as get inoculated to finally defeat COVID-19.
“The battle is not yet over. We must continue observing the minimum public health standards. That is what will really defeat COVID-19, along with the vaccine. If you don’t have the vaccine yet, wear face mask and face shield, wash hands, and practice social distancing,” he said.
“If we really work hard together, we will have a better Christmas, definitely. Christmas 2021 will be very different and it will be a better Christmas than what we had last year here in the NCR Plus area,” added Rye.
Private establishments that will be able to get a “safety seal” for complying to COVID-19 safety and health standards should sustain their compliance at all times, Labor Assistant Secretary Ma. Teresita Cucueco said in a televised public briefing.
Cucueco said the private establishments should not be complacent because the certifications may be revoked anytime within its six-month validity period.
“Usually after inspections, companies tend to relax their compliance. But the safety seal carries consumer confidence. Thus, the effort to comply must always be there,” she said, adding: “If we receive complaints, we will inspect again. If it is proven to have violations, the safety seal can be revoked.”
The labor official said a sudden surge in COVID-19 cases in the said establishment may also result to the revocation of the safety seal.
She, however, said firms may regain their safety seals once they address their violations.
“They just need to show their compliance once again and the steps they have undertaken to ensure that there will be no repeat of their violations of the public health standards,” said Cucueco. — With Gerard Naval and Ashzel Hachero
