By Alec Go, Mela Lesmoras
President Rodrigo Roa Duterte approved on Saturday the recommendation of the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) to extend the Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) imposed in the National Capital Region, Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna, and Rizal for at least one week.
The Greater Manila Area was placed under ECQ last March 29 due to a surge of COVID-19 cases and the high healthcare utilization rate of hospitals and was initially set to end on April 4.
Presidential and IATF Spokesperson Harry Roque said this measure aims to further curb the COVID-19 surge in the country, citing the inclusion of strengthened implementation of Prevent, Detect, Isolate, Treat, and Reintegrate (PDITR) strategy.
“Dahil dito, inire-require natin na magkaroon ang mga lokal na pamahalaan, NTF czars para
malaman kung ano ang resulta ang pinaigting na PDITR (Because of this, we are requiring local governments and NTF czars to conduct daily monitoring to determine the effect of strengthened PDITR),” Roque informed.
The Palace official stressed the health care utilization, case numbers, and the PDITR gatekeeping indicators would serve as the parameters to be assessed for the succeeding
weeks risk classification.
On April 2, the Department of Health (DOH) recorded the highest number of daily COVID-19 cases at 15,310 since the beginning of the pandemic. It, however, clarified that 3,709 cases were from a previous date.
As of the afternoon of April 3, the country has 165,715 active cases. The utilization of ICU beds is at 60% nationwide and at 80% in NCR. The utilization of isolation beds is at 72% and ventilators at 63% in NCR.
Sec. Roque reported that 110 additional beds for moderate to severe COVID-19 cases will become operational this week at the Quezon Institute (QI).
“Pagkatapos po ng one week kung napatunayan natin na gumagana ang ating PDITR eh pwede naman tayong mag-MECQ sa susunod na linggo (After one week, if it is proven that the PDITR is effective, we can move to MECQ [Moderate Enhanced Community Quarantine] in the coming week),” Sec. Roque said.
Based on the guidelines issued last week for the implementation of ECQ, curfew hours will be from 6PM to 5AM. Essential workers are exempted from the curfew. However, those who are 18 to 65 years-old, pregnant, and those with health risks are not allowed to go out unless necessary.
Essential stores such as groceries, pharmacies, and restaurants for takeout and delivery
are allowed to operate. Health frontline service providers are likewise allowed to operate in full capacity.
