Año wants aggressive lockdown in streets

As cases of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in the country continue to rise despite months-long quarantine, Interior Secretary Eduardo Año said he wants more aggressive but localized lockdowns in neighborhoods or barangays with even one confirmed case to check the spread of the contagion and give the economy some breathing space.

- ROMINA CABRERA

In an interview with dzMM, Año said with the easing of quarantine restrictions, strict localized lockdowns should be enforced in communities – even in specific streets – to stem community transmission.

The number of Filipinos infected with COVID-19 has reached more than 51,000 – with more than 1,000 deaths.

“Our point here is – impose a lockdown, pull out the infected and have his companions tested. I mean, extracted and placed in our isolation facilities,” he said in Filipino over dzMM.

The Department of Health (DOH) on Wednesday said community transmission is now primarily driving the increase in the number of positive cases in the country.

The DILG chief said anyone who may have come into contact with an infected person should immediately contact barangay or town officials and go into quarantine.

“So we’re urging them to step forward. Don’t wait to be traced,” he added.

Año claimed the government has enough testing kits and that testing is even covered by insurance from Philippine Insurance Corp. if one is a member.