Palace expecting 25% drop in new COVID-19 cases after two-week GCQ

MANILA, Philippines — The government is expecting at least a 25 percent drop in the number of new COVID-19 cases as a result of the two-week general community quarantine (GCQ) with stricter restrictions in Metro Manila and four provinces, Malacañang said Monday.

Until April 4, Metro Manila, Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna and Rizal will be under a “bubble” where residents are only allowed to travel within these areas, with an exception to essential purposes like going to work.

READ: IATF: Metro Manila, 4 other provinces under GCQ closed to non-essential travel

“We’re estimating that with these measures, and at the end of the two-week period, that the numbers would drop by at least 25 percent. But we’re hoping for more,” presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said in an interview over ABS-CBN News Channel.

With the Holy Week nearing, Roque appealed to the public to stay home if not for essential purposes to help decrease the number of new cases.

“Despite the fact that we have basically allowed people to work, we’re also appealing to everyone, it is Holy Week where traditionally, we have a long holiday anyway,” Roque said.

“So if they are not going out because of an essential activity, just to get the basics of food or water and to work, you might as well stay home because we all know that the tried and tested formula for preventing the further increase in cases of COVID is staying home,” he added.

Additional guidelines the government revived were barring religious gatherings, limiting dine-in restaurants, cafes, and establishments to delivery, take-out and outdoor dining, and a common curfew from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. excluding workers.

FAQs: What’s a GCQ bubble?

The Philippines recently recorded a spike in new COVID-19 cases, with 7,757 infections tallied on Sunday.

JE