The decision whether to downgrade the quarantine classification in the National Capital Region (NCR) or extend the prevailing general community quarantine (GCQ) until December is still up for deliberation.
IATF-EID and Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque explained that there is a possibility of transitioning to a modified GCQ status despite a developing consensus on GCQ extension.
“Bumababa po talaga ang numero, pero monthly naman po ang ating desisyon. So hindi pa naman tapos ang Oktubre. Bagama’t mayroon na tayong mga initial data po na pinag-aaralan ng mga eksperto natin para sa classification ng buwan ng Nobyembre (The figures are declining but our decisions are monthly. So October is not yet over. But we have initial data which are now being studied by experts for this November’s quarantine classification),” Roque stated.
Roque added that IATF-EID policies have reasonable basis such as on the easing of age restrictions, considering that fatality rate among 66 to 70 years-old is at 9.48, 71 to 75 years-old at 12.35, and 76 to 80 years-old at 80.
The IATF-EID is set to meet again today to discuss COVID-19 response and will be followed by the regular weekly address of President Rodrigo Duterte.
Meanwhile, Malacañang welcomed the latest result of the Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey that “majority of Filipinos say government actions against Covid-19 are adequate,” except on assistance to jobless individuals.
Survey data show that the adequacy of information dissemination response of the government is at 71 percent, extensive contact tracing at 67 percent, affordable COVID-19 testing at 54 percent, and help to jobless at 44 percent.
“Ito ang dahilan kung bakit binubuksan natin po ang ating ekonomiya… Hindi po pwedeng magtago tayo sa kweba habang may COVID-19 tulad ng gusto ng ilan. Ito rin ang dahilan kung bakit binubuksan pa po natin ang sektor ng transportasyon (This is why we are opening the economy… We cannot hide in a cave while there is COVID-19. This is also why we are opening the transportation sector),” Roque stated. – Report from Mela Lesmoras
