DOH: No IATF recommendations yet, social media claims ‘baseless’

People ride a train with seats arranged for social distancing measures during the first day of a more relaxed coronavirus lockdown in Manila, Philippines on Monday, June 1, 2020. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)

MANILA, Philippines — Reports circulating on social media about supposed plans to place Metro Manila, Laguna and Cebu City under enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) again are “baseless,” Department of Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said Saturday.

Vergeire clarified that the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) has not released its recommendation yet.

“Wala pa tayong nailalabas na IATF recommendation ukol sa June 15 decision. So lahat ng lumalabas sa ngayon wala pang basehan,” Vergeire said during the Laging Handa online press briefing when asked if there was truth to messages circulating on social media about the IATF’s supposed recommendation to President Rodrigo Duterte.

(The IATF has not released a recommendation for June 15 yet. So those that are circulating are baseless.)

“Antayin na lang po natin na magbigay impormasyon ang Office of the President pagkatapos po magbigay ng IATF recommendation,” she added.

(Let us wait for the Office of the President to give information after the IATF has given its recommendation.)

Ten areas are currently placed under general community quarantine (GCQ) until June 15. These are Metro Manila, Cebu City, Mandaue City, Pangasinan,  Region II, Region III, Calabarzon, Region VII, Zamboanga City and Davao City.

Meanwhile, other areas not mentioned are placed under modified enhanced community quarantine.

Duterte is set to meet with the IATF and announce his decision on June 15.