Año backs GCQ in NCR until end-2020 to limit Christmas COVID-19 cases

MRT 1ST DAY OF GCQ / JUNE 1, 2020 Commuters at MRT train at North Avenue Station, Quezon City on Monday, June 1, 2020, tduring the implementation of general community quarantine in Metro Manila. INQUIRER PHOTO / NINO JESUS ORBETA

MANILA, Philippines — Interior Secretary Eduardo Año on Friday said he supports keeping the less strict general community quarantine (GCQ) status in Metro Manila to slow down coronavirus disease infections.

“I support that particular stand of MMDA [Metropolitan Manila Development Authority] and Metro Manila mayors. Sa ngayon, kasi nasa three digits pa ang daily cases ng NCR (National Capital Region), ito pa ang sinasabing nating epicenter,” Año told reporters after the launching of Friends Project for barangay response workers in Quezon City, responding to Metro Manila Council (MMC) suggestion to keep NCR under GCQ until yearend.

“Lalo nangayon malapit na Christmas, ang tendency ng tao mag get together mag-party. Nako, iyan ang pinakamahirap kung payagan natin iyan. Under GCQ, hindi pupwede mga party party so iyan ang unang unang dahilan at gusto natin maitawid ang paskong ito na kakaunti lang ang COVID cases natin,” he added.

(Especially the Christmas season, people would get together and party. That’s going to be difficult if we allow that. Under GCQ, parties are not allowed so that is one of the reasons and we want to celebrate this Christmas with only a few cases.)

As of Thursday, the Department of Health (DOH) reported a total of 363,888 confirmed cases of COVID-19 with 312,333 recoveries and 6,783 deaths.

The NCR is still considered as the top region with the most active cases nationwide, the DOH said. Metro Manila currently has 15,034 active cases.

/MUF