Palace says IATF to look into medical groups’ concerns

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque. Screenshot from PCOO Facebook video

MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang on Saturday said the government’s task force against COVID-19 will study the concerns of health workers on rethinking the policies to address coronavirus disease pandemic.

“President Rodrigo Roa Duterte has heard the concerns of the medical community and the Chief Executive has directed the Inter-Agency Task Force for Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) to act on these concerns immediately,” presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said in a statement.

This after Palace said in an earlier statement that it denies the call of medical frontline workers to return to implementation of enhanced community quarantine in Metro Manila.

Roque also said Malacañang notes the healthcare workers’ importance in the fight against pandemic.

“Your voices have been heard. We cannot afford to let down our modern heroes.  This is our commitment,” he said.

Asked if this means Metro Manila may return to ECQ for two weeks, Roque said “the suggestion will be discussed by the  IATF anew.”

As of Friday, the Department of Health logged 98,354 cases of coronavirus disease nationwide. Of the number, 65,178 are recoveries while 2,023 deaths.

CFC