Galvez: September seen as transition period to looser quarantine protocols

MANILA, Philippines — The month of September could be a transition period to less strict quarantine protocols as the COVID-19 curve in the country has flattened, National Task Force (NTF) against COVID-19 chief implementer Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. said on Tuesday.

“Ang nakita namin, itong September na ito, maganda po ito na maging  transition [period] kasi nakita po natin, na almost 30% sa buong Metro Manila ang bumaba ang active cases,” he said.

“Nakita natin na ‘yung ating new cases na tumaas na almost 7,000. Ngayon bumababa na, nag-average na 1,900 o 2,000. Malaking improvement po ito,” Galvez added.

A research group from the University of the Philippines (UP) earlier said the country’s COVID-19 curve has flattened already as of September as the Philippines’ reproduction number is already less than one percent.

The positivity rate in the country also decreased.

However, despite the good news, Galvez urged the public to take it with caution as cases in Metro Manila are still high.

The public should not be complacent and still abide by public health protocols.

“Dapat with caution pa rin natin [i-take]. Huwag tayong makumpiyansa,” he said.

Metro Manila is currently under general community quarantine.

COVID-19 cases in the country as of September 7 is at 238,727 with 184,906 recoveries and 3,890 deaths.

Of the total caseload, 49,931 are considered active.

JE