UP experts urge gov’t to extend MECQ in NCR for 2 more weeks
Published August 12, 2020 3:55pm
Experts from the University of the Philippines on Wednesday suggested that the modified enhanced community quarantine status in the National Capital Region be extended for another two weeks to curb the further spread of COVID-19.
Interviewed on Dobol B sa News TV, Professor Ranjit Rye of the UP-OCTA Research team made the recommendation amid the high positivity and critical care utilization rates in the region.
Rye said Metro Manila has a “very high” positivity rate of 17% and over 70% occupancy of COVID-19 beds and intensive care units.
“Ang suggestion ng group is i-extend ang MECQ for another two weeks. Kaya natin ‘yan. We can suppress this virus but people will have to make a decision both at the leadership level, ‘yong gobyerno, at pati ‘yong individual level,” he said.
“Will the MECQ work? The answer is yes. If it’s a little bit longer, it will work for us even more… We need to suppress the virus so we can turn this situation around,” he added.
While Rye noted that the “R-naught” or the number that represents the infectivity rate of COVID-19 decreased in past weeks, he added it is still not enough.
“Bumababa ba ang R-naught? Few weeks ago, yes po bumababa. Wala pa ‘yong MECQ dito bumababa na… Ang key problem po doon mayroon tayong surge. Ibaba lang po natin ‘tong surge na ‘to to R-naught less than 1,” he said.
“Kaunting tiis na lang, kaunting sakripisyo, disiplina at pag-iingat and we will look forward in opening the economy again after a month and possible look forward to a brighter Christmas,” Rye added.
Citing Cebu’s situation, which has been “reversed,” Rye said Metro Manila’s case is not “hopeless.”
“[N]akita natin ‘yong nangyari sa Cebu. Nagsikap ang mga tao doon na ibaba nila… Effective ang quarantine. Nakatulong si Secretary Roy (Cimatu) pero ang talagang naging effective diyan ay ‘yong pagtutulungan ng taong bayan, ‘yong health workers and ‘yong local government,” he said.
Earlier, Malacañang said an MECQ extension over Metro Manila and nearby provinces would be “highly unlikely.”
Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said while strict lockdowns helped prevent the spread of the virus, the government no longer has enough funds to support the cash assistance to vulnerable sectors of society.
President Rodrigo Duterte placed Metro Manila, Laguna, Cavite, Rizal and Bulacan under MECQ from August 4 to 18 following pleas from the medical community for a “timeout” amid rising COVID-19 cases being admitted to hospitals and recalibration of strategies to combat the virus. —LBG, GMA News
