MANILA – The Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) will likely retain the general community quarantine (GCQ) status in Metro Manila by July 16.
Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said that downgrading the quarantine measure in Metro Manila to modified GCQ was not recommended since the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases remain high.
“That was not part of any recommendation made, that’s all I can say, hangga’t ‘di po ina-announce ng Presidente,” Roque said in a virtual press conference yesterday at the Malacanang Palace.
“At siguro po at this point, the data does not indicate na pupwede magluwag po at least sa Metro Manila, para lang po to manage expectations,” he added.
Chief implementor of the National Task Force on COVID-19 Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr., for his part, said that Metro Manila mayors have recommended the region be retained under GCQ.
“Nakita natin na ‘yung mga hospital po sa Manila ay medyo napupuno po ang iba,” Galvez said. “Ang maganda dito sa NCR [National Capital Region], very collective po ‘yung desisyon nila.”
“Pero ang hinihiling po nila, magkaroon ng stricter control but we can open ‘yung other economic activity. Kaya tinatawag nila na parang hybrid,” he added.
President Rodrigo Duterte is expected to announce tomorrow the new quarantine classifications to be implemented across the country beginning July 16./PN
