By Alec Go
The Metro Manila Council (MMC) has temporarily prohibited outdoor exercise in the National Capital Region for the remaining days of the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ).
In a resolution dated Aug. 9, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) said the new policy effective until Aug. 20 will cover all local government units in the region.
MMDA Chairperson Benhur Abalos said in Tuesday’s (Aug. 10) Palace briefing that this is due to a spike of active cases in Metro Manila and the nature of the highly transmissible Delta variant.
“We haven’t breached the 6,000 active cases… Pero nagulat kami [na] in 1 day, biglang nag-8,000, at ngayon we are nearing 16,000,” Abalos said, adding that this has pushed the general occupancy rate of hospitals to moderate risk.
He said some hospitals in the region have already reported critical risk levels for their intensive care unit (ICU) utilization. The National Kidney and Transplant Institute, St. Luke’s Medical Center, and The Medical City have already declared full occupancy for their COVID-19 beds this week.
Abalos said children’s safety was also considered in the decision to prohibit exercise outdoors during the remaining days of ECQ.
“After this, malay natin gumanda na…It’s just [for] these coming 10 days,” he said.
“Ito’y 10 araw lang naman… [It’s] to make the ECQ very, very effective. Para huwag naming abusuhin, kasi ‘yung iba nagtsi-tsismisan lang, lumalabas, etcetera,” he added.
The government earlier allowed outdoor exercise during the ECQ within the vicinity of their communities, subject to health restrictions. The ECQ is expected to be lifted on Aug. 20.
However, Health Undersecretary Leopoldo Vega said the two-week growth rate, average daily attack rate, and healthcare utilization must be reduced before the task force considers de-escalation.
Below is the table of the country’s COVID-19 indicators as of Aug. 8, 2021.
