Experts Warn Against Abrupt ECQ Lifting

Extension of Metro Manila lockdown, modified quarantine in other areas pushed

- Martin A. Sadongdong, Jeffrey G. Damicog, Vanned P. Terrazola, And Mario B. Casayuran

Metro Manila may have already reached the “peak” or highest number of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) infections daily, but this does not mean that the government can already relax the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ).

Secretary Carlito Galvez, Jr., chief implementer of the National Task Force (NTF) against Coronavirus Disease, stressed this Tuesday, saying there is a possibility that the rate of new infections could spike if the ECQ is abruptly lifted in the National Capital Region (NCR or Metro Manila).

He noted that under the current situation, the implementation of the Luzon-wide lockdown has been “effective” in slowing down the spread of the virus, citing a study from the University of the Philippines Research Institute (UPRI).

This was the reason health experts and scientists advised President Duterte to consider science-based models in making a decision on whether to extend or lift the ECQ after April 30, Galvez said.

Dr. Tony Leachon, adviser to the Inter-Agency Task Force on COVID19, warned that if restrictions are lifted too soon, there would be a resurgence of COVID-19 cases.

He instead urged the government to consider extending the community quarantine in Metro Manila and implementing a modified lockdown in other areas.

“I would recommend extension in Metro Manila, May 1 to 15, basically to increase the health care capacity, the testing centers, procure more test kits, improve the hospital facilities and see the figures go down,” he said in an interview with CNN Philippines on Wednesday.

He said that National Capital Region (NCR or Metropolitan Manila) remains the epicenter of the COVID-19 cases in the country.