Quezon City mayor favors eased quarantine restrictions after May 14

MANILA, Philippines — Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte on Monday said she is in favor of easing COVID-19 quarantine restrictions once the modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) over the so-called NCR Plus lapses after May 14 as long as health protocols are strictly enforced.

Belmonte pointed out that there are other issues apart from COVID-19 that must be addressed.

“Our numbers have gone down by at least 57 percent compared to the worst part of the surge and that’s a good sign but the numbers are still very very high,” Belmonte said in an interview on ABS-CBN News Channel.

“But having said that, I am for relaxing somewhat our restrictions because there are other issues and other factors that have to be considered. Among them is the issue on mental health, criminality, social unrest which can prove to be even greater problems if left without the proper attention.”

“I am in favor of easing restrictions provided that all of those identified areas where transmission is most common like the workplaces and the communities are given stricter enforcement in minimum standards,” she added.

Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO / NINO JESUS ORBETA

Quezon City ss of posting time has 4,406 active COVID-19 cases.

A total of  82,186 individuals from Quezon City have recovered from COVID-19 while 1,038 have died.

Nationwide, 7,174 new infections were recorded on Sunday bringing the number of active cases to 61,294.

The government’s COVID-19 task force is expected to decide whether to lift or extend the MECQ status of  Metro Manila, Rizal, Bulacan, Cavite and Laguna this week.

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