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DESPITE an increase in coronavirus cases, the Department of Health (DOH) said on Monday, December 21, 2020, that there is no need to re-impose stricter community quarantine restrictions.
In a virtual press conference, the Undersecretary of Health, María Rosario Vergeire, said that any possible increase in infections can be addressed immediately, since local government units (LGU) are already empowered to declare localized blockades.
“The LGUs have the authority to … whenever they see that one of their areas has increased cases, they can impose stricter restrictions. This is so that they can quickly resolve the increase in cases in their areas,” he said.
He said the next meeting of the Inter-Agency Working Group for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) is scheduled for next week, during which they are expected to decide on quarantine levels by January 2021.
“Before the end of the month, the IATF will meet to discuss the risk classification of the areas. The decision will be based on the capacity of our health system and the number of cases,” said the health official.
“In case we see the need to level up the community quarantine, we will do so,” Vergeire added.
Interior Secretary Eduardo Año previously warned that Metro Manila could be blocked again if cases of coronavirus infection in the region continue to rise during the holiday season. (HDT / SunStar Philippines)
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