NCR Plus might deescalate to GCQ with relaxed restrictions — Palace

MANILA, Philippines — The NCR Plus area might deescalate to a general community quarantine (GCQ) with relaxed restrictions after June 15, Malacañang said Thursday.

According to Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque, there is an improving COVID-19 situation in the area, including a “low” hospital care utilization rate.

“For Metro Manila, the numbers are looking good. The hospital care utilization remains very low, we’re at 53 percent in ICU beds which is isa sa mga importanteng factor for escalation,” Roque said in a press briefing.

(For Metro Manila, the numbers are looking good.  The hospital care utilization remains very low, we’re at 53 percent in ICU beds which is one of the factors for escalation.)

“So I would say in fact that based on the figures, Metro Manila Plus might be looking at a deescalation. It might not be to MGCQ [modified GCQ] but it could be ordinary GCQ because ang GCQ natin ngayon ay meron pang mga restrictions,” he added.

(So I would say that based on the figures, Metro Manila Plus might be looking at a deescalation. It might not be to MGCQ [modified GCQ] but it could be ordinary GCQ because our GCQ right now has restrictions.)

The NCR Plus area which is composed of Metro Manila, Rizal, Bulacan, Cavite, and Laguna remains under GCQ with restrictions until June 15.

Prior to this, NCR Plus was under GCQ “with heightened restrictions” from May 15 to May 31 wherein movement was limited to essential travel and indoor dining services were decreased to 20 percent capacity. Establishments involved in leisure-like venues for meetings were previously also barred from opening.

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