MANILA, Philippines — Placing Metro Manila under general community quarantine starting June 1 could expose thousands of workers and residents to a “new wave” of COVID-19 community transmission.
Such was the warning of Senator Risa Hontiveros on Friday, a day after President Rodrigo Duterte announced Metro Manila’s shift from modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) to GCQ by Monday.
READ: Duterte approves Metro Manila’s shift to GCQ starting June 1
She expressed concern that the available COVID-19 data indicate the country has yet to flatten the curve, especially since the Department of Health recorded on May 28 the highest uptick of confirmed cases mostly from Metro Manila.
READ: DOH records 539 COVID-19 cases; highest spike in a day
Hontiveros also said that tally of COVID-19 cases may further surge once returning overseas Filipino workers get tested, and the government meets its target testing capacity and finishes all backlog cases for validation.
“This easing of the lockdown may expose thousands of Metro Manila workers and residents to a new wave of community transmission that will definitely overwhelm our already-embattled health system,” the senator said in a statement.
She stressed that the government needs to ensure that safety nets, such as tests and personal protective equipment, are in place for workers and frontliners.
Work-from-home arrangements must also be utilized for those who are able, and safe and sufficient transportation options must be ensured, Hontiveros also said.
“Finally, I reiterate my call for the government to base its policy decisions on reliable and up-to-date data,” she continued.
“We need to ground our policies on the real situation and we need our data to reflect a more complete picture. Doing otherwise will risk the lives of many Filipinos,” she added.
Metro Manila was placed under strict lockdown since March 17 due to the high occurrence of COVID-19 cases in the region.
Under GCQ, mass transportation will be allowed in a limited capacity albeit bus and jeepney operations will remain suspended.
The metropolis’ train systems will also be allowed to run as well as shuttles of private companies, transport network vehicle services, and point-to-point buses.
Residents of GCQ areas will be allowed to go out of their residences except for senior citizens and those aged below 21. Mass gathering activities remain prohibited.