FILE PHOTO: Presidential Adviser on Peace Process and National Task Force against Coronavirus Disease-2019 (NTF COVID-19) chief implementer Carlito Galvez Jr. KARL ALONZO/ PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines — The government is open to experts’ recommendation of extending the reimposed enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) over Metro Manila and four adjacent provinces should cases continue to increase, National Task Force against COVID-19 chief implementer and vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr. said Tuesday.
According to Galvez, the government will consider extending the EQC in Metro Manila, Rizal, Bulacan, Laguna, and Cavite or collectively called the “NCR Plus bubble” if COVID-19 cases in these areas continue to see a “sharp, steep rise.”
“Kapag lalo pa nag-spike o tumaas pa [‘yung cases], I think with the recommendation of the experts that we have to extend, we will look seriously at the recommendation of the experts,” he said in a Palace briefing.
“We are open to the recommendation of our experts na i-extend ng 14 days kasi ‘yung sinasabi nga nila na ‘yung incubation period ng virus is 14 days,” Galvez added.
However, if the ECQ is lifted, he said the NCR Plus bubble stays to contain the spread of the new coronavirus.
“We may continue pa rin ‘yung observation sa bubble. Nakita natin na pag nag-rise sa NCR, considering most of the workers are also residing in Greater Manila area, talagang nakita natin na same intervention dapat ang tingin natin sa Greater Manila o NCR plus,” he said.
Presidential spokesman Harry Roque said the extension of ECQ over Metro Manila, Rizal, Bulacan, Cavite, and Laguna will be an “absolute last resort.”
The Inter-Agency Task Force on the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases will meet on Saturday, April 3, to decide on the ECQ extension, he added.
The Department of Health has recommended a week-long extension of ECQ over the NCR Plus bubble.
The national government has placed the NCR Plus bubble under ECQ from March 29 to April 4.