The enhanced community quarantine cannot be lifted abruptly, the government said Sunday, as it warned that strict measures would be reimplemented if there is a resurgence in coronavirus cases after the lockdown period.
Members of the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) on the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases met Sunday to discuss possible scenarios and measures to be enforced once the Luzon-wide quarantine ends.
While the task force has yet to decide whether to extend or lift the quarantine, its spokesman, Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles, said the Philippines has to consider the reminder of the World Health Organization about the risks of lifting lockdowns prematurely.
"We have to follow, if ever, the advice of the WHO that we cannot be abrupt on this. So one of the option being eyed is phase by phase (lifting). Maybe it should be targeted, we have to choose (which establishments) should reopen and what work force would be allowed to work, what transport systems would be allowed," Nograles told radio station dzBB.
"So we have these kinds of guidelines that should be imposed and once they are approved by President Duterte, we would have new do's and don't's," he added.
The enhanced community quarantine started last March 17 and was supposed to end last April 13 but President Rodrigo Duterte decided to extend it to give the government more time to conduct tests and strengthen the country's health system.
Swift action vowed
Nograles assured the public that the government would act swiftly in the event of a resurgence of coronavirus cases.
"There is a caveat... if the numbers increase, if there is a new spike or surge or resurgence or second wave or relapse, whatever terminology will be used, the bottom line is if we see another increase in the number of cases, we have to be prepared. The government has to decide quickly," the IATF spokesman said.
"We need to be strict again, implement again the enhanced community quarantine, either as a whole or in particular localities. Our action should be swift," he added.
Nograles said the IATF is expected to discuss what industries and sectors would be allowed to resume operations, whether the quarantine should still cover the entire island of Luzon or only selected areas.
The government, Nograles said, would consider five parameters in deciding whether to lift or extend the quarantine namely the epidemiological curve or the acceleration or deceleration of COVID-19 cases; health aspects, including capacity to tests, isolate, and treat patients and facilities; social aspect; economic aspect; and security aspect.
"We do not know yet what will happen tomorrow. Hopefully, we will arrive at a consensus. Whatever recommendations to be presented, ultimately, it will be President Duterte who will decide," Nograles said.
Nograles said regardless of the post-quarantine scenario to be implemented, the wearing of masks, constant disinfection, and social distancing would still be required.
He said the government is also expected to ramp up the testing of patients under investigation and patients under monitoring on Tuesday because of its improved testing capacity.
https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2020/04/19/2008370/iatf-luzon-lockdown-restrictions-cannot-be-lifted-all-once
Sunday, April 19, 2020
What happens to Luzon-wide ECQ after April 30? Duterte may get reco on April 25, says Año
A recommendation on what action will be taken after the extended enhanced community quarantine in the entire Luzon lapses on April 30 may be submitted to President Rodrigo Duterte on April 25, Interior Secretary Eduardo Año said Sunday.
In an interview on ANC, Año said the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emergency Infectious Diseases is expected to meet again on Monday where the latest on the"COVID-19 epidemiology" will be presented.
“We are going to take into consideration whatever recommendation and conclusions that they will be able to present tomorrow… along with several factors, like our health system capacity at the present, looking into the economic factors, and also social factors,” said Año.
“So, we’re thinking of coming up with a recommendation to the president probably, maybe, on the 25th. And then, of course, it’s going to be the president who shall decide whether the ECQ will be lifted, or modified, or partially lifted, or even extended,” he said, adding expanding the ECQ to cover areas outside Luzon is also an option.
Año ruled out, however, a “total lockdown for the entire country,” saying what government intends to do is to implement the existing measure “on a very strict mode.”
He also clarified that government will not implement martial law, although a “martial law-style” implementation of the quarantine measures may be done in severely-affected areas where there are rampant violations.
“We want the people to be aware on the graveness of this problem,” he said. “We are increasing actually policemen and soldiers to implement the remaining days of the lockdown.”
Año said severely-affected areas, where there are ongoing local transmissions of the disease, like Cebu City’s Sitio Zapatera, are continuously being looked into.
He warned that with the stricter implementation of the lockdown, authorities are expected to apprehend more violators of quarantine measures, especially those “engaging in other activities like drinking and gambling.”
Año lamented the apparent lack of concern by some people, “as if they just don’t care.”
He said local government units are being encouraged to pass ordinances to punish violators after the lockdown period.
“For the rest of the rest of the year, I think we are going to confront and face this COVID problem until a vaccine is invented,” he said, noting that the new normal will require people to always wear masks, observe physical distancing, and avoid mass gatherings.
The government placed the entire Luzon, home to more than half of the country's population, on lockdown from March 17 to curb the spread of the new coronavirus disease. As a result, economic activities have also been limited.
On Saturday, the country's tally of COVID-19 cases breached the 6,000-mark.
https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/04/19/20/what-happens-to-luzon-wide-ecq-after-april-30-duterte-may-get-reco-on-april-25-says-ao
In an interview on ANC, Año said the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emergency Infectious Diseases is expected to meet again on Monday where the latest on the"COVID-19 epidemiology" will be presented.
“We are going to take into consideration whatever recommendation and conclusions that they will be able to present tomorrow… along with several factors, like our health system capacity at the present, looking into the economic factors, and also social factors,” said Año.
“So, we’re thinking of coming up with a recommendation to the president probably, maybe, on the 25th. And then, of course, it’s going to be the president who shall decide whether the ECQ will be lifted, or modified, or partially lifted, or even extended,” he said, adding expanding the ECQ to cover areas outside Luzon is also an option.
Año ruled out, however, a “total lockdown for the entire country,” saying what government intends to do is to implement the existing measure “on a very strict mode.”
He also clarified that government will not implement martial law, although a “martial law-style” implementation of the quarantine measures may be done in severely-affected areas where there are rampant violations.
“We want the people to be aware on the graveness of this problem,” he said. “We are increasing actually policemen and soldiers to implement the remaining days of the lockdown.”
Año said severely-affected areas, where there are ongoing local transmissions of the disease, like Cebu City’s Sitio Zapatera, are continuously being looked into.
He warned that with the stricter implementation of the lockdown, authorities are expected to apprehend more violators of quarantine measures, especially those “engaging in other activities like drinking and gambling.”
Año lamented the apparent lack of concern by some people, “as if they just don’t care.”
He said local government units are being encouraged to pass ordinances to punish violators after the lockdown period.
“For the rest of the rest of the year, I think we are going to confront and face this COVID problem until a vaccine is invented,” he said, noting that the new normal will require people to always wear masks, observe physical distancing, and avoid mass gatherings.
The government placed the entire Luzon, home to more than half of the country's population, on lockdown from March 17 to curb the spread of the new coronavirus disease. As a result, economic activities have also been limited.
On Saturday, the country's tally of COVID-19 cases breached the 6,000-mark.
https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/04/19/20/what-happens-to-luzon-wide-ecq-after-april-30-duterte-may-get-reco-on-april-25-says-ao
Sotto: Senate session to resume on May 4
SENATE President Vicente "Tito" Sotto III on Saturday stressed that session resumes on May 4, whether or not the executive department will lift the Enhanced Community Quarantine due to COVID19 pandemic.
Sotto explained that they can never change the legislative calendar, meaning they need to convene session on May 4.
"'Yung legislative calendar, hindi pwedeng baguhin kahit na mag-extend ang executive department o sabihin ng Pangulo dapat iextend ang ECQ para safe pa, ang legislative calendar natin hindi pwedeng baguhin we have to convene on May 4," said Sotto.
"Trabaho ko yun (mag-convene), mag-isa man ako, I'm sure marami sa amin makaka-attend, ikoconvene ko yun," he added.
In the event that a total lockdown will be implemented, Sotto said they can convene but will also suspend immediately.
"Kung sabihin ng Pangulo na total lockdown, magko-convene pa rin kami tapos magsu-suspend lang para anytime pwedeng magpatawag," he further said.
Meanwhile, Senator Panfilo "Ping" Lacson has a different view on the matter.
Lacson said they can extend their break and resume session once the ECQ is lifted.
"May mungkahi na pag lockdown pa rin tayo at ganito pa rin situation at mataas ang health risk baka baguhin ang legislative calendar," Lacson said.
"Pero pagbalik namin ng May magsi-sine die kami ng June. So mga 1 buwan lang yan, so pwede mag-comply kami na mag-sine die kami, pwede i-extend ang session break,"he added.
https://journal.com.ph/news/nation/sotto-senate-session-resume-may-4
Sotto explained that they can never change the legislative calendar, meaning they need to convene session on May 4.
"'Yung legislative calendar, hindi pwedeng baguhin kahit na mag-extend ang executive department o sabihin ng Pangulo dapat iextend ang ECQ para safe pa, ang legislative calendar natin hindi pwedeng baguhin we have to convene on May 4," said Sotto.
"Trabaho ko yun (mag-convene), mag-isa man ako, I'm sure marami sa amin makaka-attend, ikoconvene ko yun," he added.
In the event that a total lockdown will be implemented, Sotto said they can convene but will also suspend immediately.
"Kung sabihin ng Pangulo na total lockdown, magko-convene pa rin kami tapos magsu-suspend lang para anytime pwedeng magpatawag," he further said.
Meanwhile, Senator Panfilo "Ping" Lacson has a different view on the matter.
Lacson said they can extend their break and resume session once the ECQ is lifted.
"May mungkahi na pag lockdown pa rin tayo at ganito pa rin situation at mataas ang health risk baka baguhin ang legislative calendar," Lacson said.
"Pero pagbalik namin ng May magsi-sine die kami ng June. So mga 1 buwan lang yan, so pwede mag-comply kami na mag-sine die kami, pwede i-extend ang session break,"he added.
https://journal.com.ph/news/nation/sotto-senate-session-resume-may-4