Metro Manila ready for GCQ, says Roque
MANILA, Philippines — Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque on Thursday said that Metro Manila is ready to be placed under a less stringent general community quarantine.
“The doubling rate is slowing… It has been consistent for a month. We have areas prepared for the confinement of the who are symptomatic,” Roque said in Filipino during today’s Palace briefing.
Roque, who is also spokesperson of the COVID-19 inter-agency task force, added that the doubling rate of novel coronavirus critical cases and critical care capacity are the criteria for deciding on whether to place areas under lockdown.
Under GCQ, several non-essential industries will be allowed to reopen. Public transport will also be allowed to resume operations at a reduced capacity to ensure proper social distancing.
Roque said data suggests that NCR is ready to shift to GCQ but everyone’s cooperation will be needed. He added that the government’s confidence in the Philippine people is high.
“They have proven that they can comply,” Roque said in FIlipino.
However, the spokesperson also said that COVID-19 cases will inevitably rise while there is no vaccine or treatment available.
Forecasted rise of cases under GCQ
Researchers from the University of Santo Tomas in Manila also forecasted a rise in COVID-19 cases under GCQ.
Although, unlike Roque, they said "these increases are not inevitable" and "can be offset with a rigorous tracking, testing and tracing program that seeks to limit community spread by breaking chains of viral transmission."
Malacañang this week claimed that the country has met — and even exceeded — its target national testing capacity of 30,000 per day. However, data from the health department showed that around 10,000 samples or fewer are processed per day.
The Department of Health has clarified that the testing capacity of 32,000 is an estimate and does not mean that many tests are actually performed each day.
The World Health Organization recently sounded the alarm over the slow contact tracing being conducted by the government.
Duterte yet to decide on lockdown plans
The Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Diseases (IATF) on Wednesday night recommended to President Rodrigo Duterte that Metro Manila be placed under GCQ from June 1 to 15.
The final decision still lies with President Rodrigo Duterte who will meet with the IATF and his Cabinet tonight.
Roque said Duterte will announce his decision Thursday night in a televised address.
As of Wednesday afternoon, the DOH reported 15,049 COVID-19 cases and a death toll of 904 in the country.
Other regions and provinces in the Philippines considered moderate and low-risk areas will be placed under general community quarantine starting May 1. Bookmark this page for updates. (Main image by The STAR/Edd Gumban)
The health department registers 1,474 new COVID-19 cases, bringing the national caseload to 2,824,499.
- New deaths: 205
- New recoveries: 2,565
- Total active cases: 22,070
The Department of Health reports an additional 1,485 COVID-19 infections, bringing the national tally to to 2,823,210.
- New deaths: 277
- New recoveries: 1,393
- Total active cases: 23,200
The Department of Health registers 1,297 new COVID-19 cases, biringing the national caseload to 2,821,753.
- New deaths: 305
- New recoveries: 1,956
- Total active cases: 23,158
The Department of Health registers 2,646 new COVID-19 cases, bringing the national tally to 2,809,311.
- Active cases: 29,138 or 1.0% of the total
- Deaths: 99, pushing the count to 44,665
- Recoveries: 4,029 bringing the number to 2,735,508
The Department of Health logs 1,409 new COVID-19 cases, bringing the national tally to 2,806,694.
- Active cases: 30,544 or 1.1% of the total
- Deaths: 46, pushing the count to 44,567
- Recoveries: 2,941 bringing the number to 2,731,583
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