CALOOCAN CITY, Aug. 31 (PIA) -- President Rodrigo Roa Duterte is expected to announce on Monday the new quarantine classifications that will be implemented over different parts of the country, including COVID-19 hotspot Metro Manila, beginning Tuesday, Sept. 1, amid the global public health emergency.
In a report by PTV News, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said the upcoming meeting of President Duterte with the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) will take place in Malacañang.
The University of the Philippines (UP) OCTA Research Team reported that the recent modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) in the National Capital Region (NCR) from August 4 to 18 has brought about a positive impact.
“We had a very good gain after 2-week MECQ… We did the numbers, and we did a modelling recently, and R-value, ‘yung reproduction natin (our reproduction) has decreased, from a high [number] few months ago, 1.17-1.18, now down to 0.95,” Dr. Rodrigo Angelo Ong of UP OCTA Research explained.
“So the R-value means that if it’s more than 1, if the R is more than 1, it’s still being transmitted in the community. If it’s less than 1, it is no longer transmitted, there’s somewhat a control in the transmission of the virus in the community. So currently, the R-value is less than 1,” he added.
Based on the group’s recommendation, Metro Manila may remain under a more lenient general community quarantine (GCQ), as long as there is strict implementation of protocols.
“Maintaining GCQ for at least another 2 weeks would be beneficial to really get the benefits of the downward trend that we gained a few weeks ago during the MECQ… We can maintain GCQ, but of course in a higher level pa rin of, sabihin na lang natin (let’s just say) vigilance, and lower our complacency,” Ong advised. (PIA NCR)
Latest forecast of the group show that the COVID-19 cases in the country may reach up to 330,000 to 375,000 by September 30. Experts reminded that the increase may be prevented with strict compliance to health protocols. (PIA NCR)
Source: Philippines Information Agency (pia.gov.ph)
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