THE Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) has recommended the classification of areas in the country into “low, moderate, and high-risk areas for infections” to determine if they should remain under community quarantine following the continued presence of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in the country.
Presidential spokesman Harry Roque on Thursday presented the framework submitted by the IATF to President Duterte to guide him in deciding whether to totally or partially lift, expand or modify the enhanced community quarantine in Luzon that will end on April 30.
Roque said the ECQ has been successful in keeping virus cases down in the country but it cannot be implemented for a long time.
“Hindi po natin pwedeng sabihin na indefinite ang ating ECQ dahil kinakailangan naman, magkaroon ng hanapbuhay ang ating mga mamamayan (We cannot say that the ECQ should be implemented indefinitely because our fellow Filipinos also need to go to work),” he said.
He added majority of the health experts consulted by the President, along with members of his economic team, had recommended a partial lifting of quarantine or the implementation of a modified lockdown.
Roque said under the IATF proposal, which leaned on a modified quarantine, some establishments and public transportation would be allowed to resume operations, while some groups of people would also be allowed to return to work.
In the IATF’s recommendations, a “high-risk” classification means no relaxation of the ECQ and focus will be given on the improvement of the capacity of local healthcare facilities to handle COVID-19 cases.
Places classified as “moderate risk” would have partial resumption of public transport, while observing strict social distancing measures; while in “low-risk” places, the lockdown maybe lifted and public transportation may resume full operations.
The classification of an area would depend on minimum health standards for residents and workers, and the capacities of local healthcare systems; the geographical area, including the number of people who are infected or might get infected with the virus, the severity of the illness and deaths; and the age and health conditions of the people, among others.
Roque said among the proposal was to extend the ECQ in areas with a 70 percent critical care utilization rate, the imposition of ECQ in areas with critical care utilization rate of 30 percent to 70 percent, and the lifting of ECQ in areas with less than 30 percent critical care utilization rate.
President Duterte on Thursday night met with select members of the Cabinet and the IATF to discuss and decide on what next to do to preserve the gains of the current 45-day Luzon ECQ.
NO OFW RESTRICTIONS
Interior Secretary Eduardo Año reiterated his directive to local government officials to ensure the unhampered movement of returning Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
Año issued the order after 320 OFWs from the Middle East, on board 13 buses, were prevented on Thursday from proceeding to resorts in Lian, Batangas where they were supposed to undergo a 14-day quarantine.
Reports said the group was held for hours at a checkpoint in Matabungkay town.
Año said the LGU officials and residents, who feared the spread of the virus in their town, should not have blocked the buses.
Returning OFWs are tested for COVID-19 and transported to pre-designated areas where they will undergo quarantine. If healthy, they will be issued certifications to go home after the quarantine.
The DILG chief said local officials should be aware of the policy about the unhampered movement of OFWs, saying governors and mayors were properly informed about quarantine protocols.
“Dapat na-eskortan ng pulis ‘yan para hindi na sana naharang ‘yan kasi tulad niyan, nagbabaan, they violated the quarantine rules (They should have been escorted by the police so they will not be blocked. They disembark, they violated the quarantine rules),” he said of the OFWs.
Ano said LGU officials who continue to block the movement of OFWs will be held liable for violation of IATF guidelines and for violation of the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act. — With Victor Reyes
