[ad_1]
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 31) – The country’s COVID-19 working group has proposed that President Rodrigo Duterte extend the duration of the community quarantine status from two weeks to one month, Commerce Secretary Ramón López said Monday.
“The greatest benefit of this, of course, is more stability in our actions, in the reopening of the economy. It does not change, there is little stability,” he said at a press conference.
[Translation: The benefit is that it will create stability in our movement, in the bid to reopen the economy. It’s not constantly changing thus creating stability.]The president generally announces the quarantine status of certain areas, placing them under varying degrees of lockdown restrictions for 14 days. The two-week duration gives the government the option to adjust measures according to the ever-changing case doubling time and critical care capacity for COVID-19 patients.
López said that this is the ideal direction to take if the government wants to change to the “new normal” or no community quarantine, but with the strict application of minimum health standards, such as the use of face masks and physical distancing.
Duterte will address the nation on Monday to announce the post-August 31 quarantine status. The Philippines has been under various forms of community quarantine for 170 days, making it the longest blockade in the world.
[ad_2]
