The National Task Force Against COVID-19 disclosed the implementation of the enhanced community quarantine against COVID-19 is effective based on the study of University of the Philippines Research Institute.
National Action Plan (NAP) Chief Implementer Carlito Galvez Jr. relayed what experts have told him that the National Capital Region (NCR) might have reached its peak or the highest number of COVID-19 cases if it were not for the ECQ.
He added that some provinces that have implemented ECQ could be experiencing the same. Amid the good news, Galvez said Prof. Lagmay and Dr. Herbosa warned on the possibility of a surge in the “rate of new infections” if the ECQ is immediately lifted in Manila and other places.
Galvez assured the government is thoroughly studying its next measures against COVID-19. He added the government aims to prevent the occurrence of a second wave of the disease. The Chief Implementer advised to not “rush into normalcy” and that the measures must be calibrated.
Meanwhile, the government has continued to strengthen the health system capacity of the country. Galvez said the first batch of purchased PCR testing kits and rapid testing kits might arrive this week, and that there are now 3, 052 quarantine facilities in the country. – Report from Bea Bernardo
