Duterte to convene IATF anew on COVID-19 measures

MANILA, Philippines— President Rodrigo Duterte will meet on Thursday afternoon members of the Interagency Task Force (IATF) for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases, Malacañang said.

“Bibigyan ko rin po ng kompirmasyon na a la sais mamayang gabi ay pupulungin ng Presidente ang ilang miyembro ng IATF,” Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said in an online press conference.

(I am confirming that later at six in the evening, the President will meet with some members of the IATF.)

The meeting comes a week ahead of April 30 when the Luzon-wide enhanced community quarantine is expected to end.

Roque reiterated that the President has yet to make a decision on what kind of measure he will impose post-April 30.

“Wala pa pong desisyon ang Presidente kung ipagpapatuloy, ililift o irerelax ang ECQ. Ganun pa man, inaasahan po natin ang kanyang desisyon anung oras ngayon,” Roque said.

(The President does not have a decision yet on whether to continue, lift or relax the ECQ. Nonetheless, we are expecting that he might make a decision anytime.)

On Monday, the President met with several experts, including former secretaries of the Department of Health (DOH), to discuss the government’s next step against the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

Roque earlier said no suggestions were made for the government to impose a “total lockdown” or another extension of the Luzon-wide enhanced community quarantine.

Instead, experts have recommended to either retain, relax or lift quarantine measures but only in certain areas depending on the number of COVID-19 cases, Roque said.

Health officials have so far confirmed 6,710 COVID-19 cases nationwide with 446 fatalities and 693 recoveries.

/MUF