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As the country may shift to a more relaxed quarantine state on March 1, Health Secretary Francisco T. Duque III urged local government units (LGUs) to be on alert and further increase their capacity to monitor. vigilance to avoid new peaks in cases, especially in the National Capital Region (NCR).
Duque also expressed confidence that the LGUs are ready for the implementation of the modified general community quarantine (MGCQ) after their one-year experience in the fight against Covid-19.
Asked during the Laging Handa press conference about the reason for the rebound in cases especially at NCR, Duque blamed the failure to comply with minimum public health standards such as the use of a mask, face shield, physical distancing and frequent hand washing.
UK variant
However, Duque said they have yet to determine whether the increase in cases is due to the B1.1.7 variant or the UK variant.
“We still don’t have enough data to show that it is due to the UK variant … we have to wait two weeks and analyze the data,” Duque said.
He said the matter is already being examined by the University of the Philippines-Philippine Genome Center (UP-PGC), the UP National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Tropical Medicine Research Institute.
However, according to the OCTA research team, the big contributor to this reported increase was Pasay City, where a 203 percent increase in infections was seen in the past three days.
The OCTA said that of the 28 daily average recorded from February 11-17, the city recorded an average of 86 daily cases from February 18-20.
While the National Capital Region (NCR) has a negative growth rate, eight cities have been showing increase in cases: Valenzuela, Pasay, Malabon, Pasig, Makati, Navotas, Las Piñas, Manila. Still, the health services fee remains in the “safe zone.”
Localized blockage
Duque also urged the LGUs to immediately implement a localized lockdown if there are a large number of cases reported in “barangays, sites, streets or complexes.”
“It is no longer good to implement a blockade across the country,” Duque said.
Over the weekend, the Pasay city government imposed restrictions on 33 barangays and one commercial establishment for 14 days due to the increase in Covid cases.
According to city manager Atty. Dennis Acorda, Mayor Emi Calixto-Rubiano wants barangays with 3 or more cases blocked to contain the virus.
Acorda said that the Philippine National Police and Barangay Officers will be supplemented by members of the City’s Office of Natural Resources and Environment, the Office of Regulation and Franchising of Tricycles-Pedicabs, and the Office of Traffic and Parking Management to enforce IATF protocols.
They will be delegated to issue citations to violators of health and safety rules.
Inspection teams from the Business Licensing and Permitting Office (BPLO) will also verify the establishments’ compliance with IATF protocols. Public markets will also be empowered to inspect stalls and enforce health protocols.
“Let’s strictly follow the EMI habit [Ensure to wash your hands, Mask is a must. Implement physical distancing]”Acorda said.
