Scrapping of COVID-19 quarantine classifications won’t happen soon — Nograles

 (Niño Jesus Orbeta/Philippine Daily Inquirer)

MANILA, Philippines — The scrapping of quarantine classifications based on the COVID-19 situation will not happen anytime soon unless the Philippines vaccinates more people against COVID-19, Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles said Monday.

“Right now, just to clear the air, that’s not going to happen anytime soon. That’s only something that we are considering after we’re able to inoculate 50 million to 70 million Filipinos,” Nograles said in an interview on ABS-CBN News Channel.

Nograles said leaving the quarantine classifications up to local government units will only happen once the country achieves “population protection” or “herd immunity.”

“Right now, it is still the same protocols which ang quarantine classifications will be given by the national IATF [Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases] as recommendation to the President and the President will ultimately make the final decision,” he said.

Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles. FILE PHOTO

Since the onset of the pandemic in March 2020, President Rodrigo Duterte has been regularly announcing quarantine classifications of provinces based on their COVID-19 situation.

The so-called NCR Plus, made up of Metro Manila, Rizal, Bulacan, Cavite, and Laguna remain under general community quarantine until June 30.

Meanwhile, Davao City, Zamboanga City and 19 other areas are under the stricter modified enhanced community quarantine until the end of the month.

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