MANILA – It is still premature to decide on whether the Luzon-wide enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) should be lifted or extended beyond April 14, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said.
President Rodrigo Duterte ordered the imposition of an enhanced community quarantine being observed to keep the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) 2019 at bay.
“Maaga pa. Tandaan po natin ang China, ‘yung kanilang Wuhan ay nag-umpisa ng kanilang lockdown January 23 and, in fact, hindi pa rin completely lifted ang lockdown nila after two months,” Duque said in an interview with DZBB.
“Kahit na single digit na lang ang kanilang reported new cases ay hindi pa rin po sila nag-completely lift ng lockdown,” he added.
Based on the latest count from the DOH, the Philippines recorded 1,546 confirmed cases of COVID-19, with 778 deaths and 42 recoveries. There are currently 874 persons under investigation and 6,321 persons under monitoring.
Duque also said the COVID-19 fatality rate in the country has decreased from 8 percent to 5 percent, citing the change is still due to rising number of confirmed cases vis-a-vis the reported deaths./PN
