OCTA pushes for ‘hard GCQ’ to prevent further surge in infections

CNN – Published Mar 11, 2021 3:12:05 PM

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 11) — An independent research group that has been studying the country’s coronavirus situation is recommending stricter mobility restrictions particularly for Metro Manila, saying compliance with minimum public health standards alone is no longer enough at this point due to the dramatic surge in COVID-19 cases.

OCTA Research fellow Ranjit Rye told CNN Philippines’ Balitaan on Thursday that Metro Manila, epicenter of the local coronavirus outbreak, now has a reproduction rate of around 1.5. This means that a patient sickened with COVID-19 could infect up to two other people.

Starting February 25, the country has been seeing around 2,000 to more than 3,000 infections daily, majority of which were being recorded in the capital region. If the trend continues, the country could record as many as 6,000 COVID-19 cases daily by the end of March, with Metro Manila contributing to up to 3,000 of these infections, according to the latest OCTA projections.

“It’s so much faster than the last surge we had last year,” Rye said, referring to the rise in infections in August 2020. During the second half of that month, Metro Manila eased to the more relaxed general community quarantine.

In reopening the economy, government officials have repeatedly called on the public to wear face masks and face shields and practice social distancing, but OCTA Research said much more needs to be done now. Rye said some of the restrictions may have to be reinstated but refused to specify which ones, saying the group leaves it to economic managers and government health experts.

“The one thing that OCTA is trying to say here is that subscribing o pagsusunod sa minimum public health standards is not enough, kailangan po meron tayong (we need to have) mobility restrictions,” Rye said.

“For the next two to three weeks or month, we need to have a hard GCQ. That’s the position of OCTA. We need to impose a strict compliance with the GCQ the way we understand the GCQ… for it to have an impact on the R (reproduction rate),” Rye said.

He said OCTA Research will provide some insights during the Metro Manila mayors’ meeting Thursday night. The local chief executives are expected to come up with unified policies on curfew hours and border control to curb the spread of COVID-19.

SOURCE: https://cnnphilippines.com/news/2021/3/11/OCTA-research-metro-manila-covid-19-hard-gcq.html?fb