15-Day Lockdown Extension Mulled

IATF: No conclusive data yet to justify lifting or extending quarantine

- Martin A. Sadongdong And Argyll B. Geducos

The government is studying whether there is a need to extend the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) for 15 more days to sustain the gains achieved thus far in containing the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), the chief implementer of the National Action Plan (NAP) against the illness disclosed on Saturday.

Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr., of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity (OPAPRU), said it is still premature to announce whether the enhanced quarantine will be lifted or extended further as various factors need to be considered.

“I-involve natin dito ang mga scientist at doctor. Titingnan natin ang reference models sa ibang bansa. Mahirap po na mag-announce tayo ng normalcy and then babalik na naman tayo sa lockdown (We need to involve the scientists and doctors. We have to look at the reference models of other countries. It's difficult to announce that we are going back to normal, only to implement another lockdown),” he said in a radio interview over DZBB.

He observed that the Luzon-wide lockdown has slowed down the spread of the virus, citing strategic analysis reports.

“Malaki ang possibility na magkaroon tayo ng dagdag na 15 days or 20 days para ma-sustain dahil sa ngayon po umaakyat pa (There is a big possibility that we will have a 15- to 20day extension to sustain [the gains] because [the number of new cases] is still rising),” Galvez said.

Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles admitted that the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases was finding it difficult to recommend the suspension or lifting of the Luzon lockdown due to the absence of conclusive data.