The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) said on Saturday, April 4, that the early lifting of the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) would result in a "relapse" against the government's efforts to stop the spread of COVID-19.
According to DILG Secretary Eduardo Año, the attempts of the government to contain the disease would go to waste, should authorities make the error of lifting the ECQ too early.
"If i-lift, masasayang ang ating efforts. Magkakaroon ng relapse, which we may find hard to contain," he told radio DZMM.
According to him, the completion of the facilities to accommodate those who are COVID-19 positive and persons under investigation and monitoring should be factored in this decision.
"'Yung COVID-19 hospitals, kaya ba 'yan na kahit mag-lift tayo ng lockdown, handa ang ating gobyerno na matugunan ang possible surge?"
This came after Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) spokesperson and Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles announced on April 4 in a virtual press briefing that the government has set parameters on whether or not the ECQ will be lifted or extended.
The parameters are as follows:
- Trends in the COVID-19 epidemiological curve, which includes the acceleration or deceleration of new cases
- The capacity of the healthcare system, which includes the number and availability of quarantine, isolation, and treatment facilities; availability of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE); the ability to mount contact tracing, and the testing capacity of our country
- Social factors
- Economic factors
- Security factors
Some members of the Senate and House of Representatives also called for an extension of the ECQ. According to Senator Joel Villanueva, the extension of the lockdown is necessary due to the fast rise in the number of positive COVID-19 cases.
Senate Minority Floor Leader Franklin Drilon also suggested extending the Luzon-wide quarantine for two weeks until April 30. According to him, the ECQ can be relaxed come May, but certain restrictions must still be in effect, such as limited travel to and from Luzon, physical distancing while in public vehicles, closure of malls and churches, and holding of mass gatherings.
H/t: ABS-CBN News, GMA News Online, CNN Philippines
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