2Q of 2021 may be right time for nationwide MGCQ , says Palace official

CLEAR AIR Balcony view of Manila’s coastline on Sunday, the 72nd day of the lockdown in the metropolis last year. Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles said that with the arrival of the COVID-19 vaccine in the country, the second quarter of the year may be the right time to place the entire nation under modified general community quarantine status. (GRIG C. MONTEGRANDE / INQUIRER)

MANILA, Philippines — Following the recent arrival of doses of COVID-19 vaccine in the country, Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles said the second quarter of 2021 might be the “right time” for a nationwide shift to modified general community quarantine (MGCQ).

In an online briefing, Nograles said the AstraZeneca vaccine arriving this Thursday and additional doses of Sinovac’s CoronaVac due later this month gives President Rodrigo Duterte confidence to reopen the economy.

“He’s very happy to receive the next batch of vaccines, itong AstraZeneca tonight. That gives even more confidence, mas tumataas ang kumpyansa ni Pangulo (It increases the President’s confidence.) Nograles said.

“Gaya ng sabi ni [vaccine czar] Sec. Charlie [Galvez], within the month of March also, we’ll be getting 1 million doses of Sinovac. So mas napapataas pa yung kumpyansa ni Pangulong Duterte.”

“So I foresee this to be something that will be in the works sa second quarter po. Baka ito na yung tamang panahon na mag-shift na tayo sa MGCQ para sa buong Pilipinas (This might be the right time to to place the entire nation under MGCQ.),” he added.

President Duterte earlier rejected the proposal to place the entire Philippines under MGCQ, the most lenient community quarantine status, while the government has yet to roll out the COVID-19 vaccine.

After the country received its first batch of the COVID-19 vaccine from China, Duterte said he would consider further reopening the economy if the Philippines gets at least 2 million doses.

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