By MARTIN A. SADONGDONG
The government is studying whether there is a need to extend the enhanced community quarantine or 15 more days to sustain the “gains” achieved thus far in containing the spread of the COVID-19, the chief implementer of the National Action Plan against the illness disclosed yesterday.
Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr., presidential adviser on peace, reconciliation, and unity, said it is still “premature” to announce whether the enhanced quarantine will be lifted or extended further as various factors need to be considered.
“I-involve natin dito ang mga scientist at doctor. Titingan natin ang reference models sa ibang bansa. Mahirap po na mag-announce tayo ngnormalcy and then babalik na naman tayo sa lockdown,” he said.
He observed that the Luzon-wide lockdown has slowed down the spread of the virus, citing strategic analysis reports.
“Malaki ang possibility na magkaroon tayo ng dagdag na 15 days or 20 days para ma-sustain dahil sa ngayon po umaakyat pa,” Galvez said.
He said it is up to President Duterte to decide on the status of the enhanced community quarantine: “Pinag-uusapan pa sa itaas, hindi natin puwede i-preempt ang desisyon ng President.”
Meanwhile, Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles admitted that the Inter-agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases is finding it difficult to recommend the suspension or lifting of the Luzon lockdown due to the absence of conclusive data.
In his virtual presser, Nograles said the IATF was only able to adopt a set of parameters for deciding on the total or partial lifting or the possible extension of the enhanced community quarantine in Luzon.
These are:
— Trends in the COVID-19 epidemiological curve, which include, among others, the doubling time, acceleration, or deceleration of new cases.
— Capacity of the health care system, which includes, among others, the number and availability of quarantine, isolation, and treatment facilities; the capability to mount contact tracing; availability of personal protective equipment to frontliners, and the testing capacity of the country.
— Social factors.
— Economic factors.
— Security factors.
For this purpose, Nograles said the Department of Health was directed to convene all concerned agencies and to finalize the aggregation and analysis of all relevant data applicable to the contained area.
“(The analysis) is subject to the deliberation of the IATF and final determination by the President,” he said.
The same sub-technical working group was likewise directed to apply the same parameters and come up with recommendations with regard to the possible implementation of a general or enhanced community quarantine in localities in the Visayas and Mindanao.
The entire mainland Luzon is under an enhanced community quarantine until April 12 while the National Capital Region is under a community quarantine until April 14.
Presidential Adviser for Entrepreneurship Joey Concepcion earlier suggested a shift to selective quarantine at the barangay level after the expiration of the Luzon lockdown.
