OCTA Research floats MECQ, MECQ ‘flexi’ in NCR to curb COVID-19 Delta variant

(NIñO JESUS ORBETA / INQUIRER file photo)

MANILA, Philippines — The government may want to consider placing Metro Manila under modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) or a “flexible” MECQ  to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 Delta variant, OCTA Research said Thursday.“Pwede namang pag-usapan ‘yung kahit MECQ or MECQ flexi,” OCTA Research fellow Guido David told ABS-CBN’s Teleradyo when asked what quarantine classification the research group was recommending.

David said they met with some business consultants who also favored the implementation of “MECQ flexi”, which they said should allow vaccinated individuals in Metro Manila to go out.

“Pwede namang i-discuss ‘yun. Pwede naman tayong maging creative sa strategies. Hindi naman kailangan na hard lockdown. Pwede rin naman na hard lockdown kung ‘yun ang gusto ng national government,” said David.

(It can be discussed.  We can be creative in our strategies. It may not be a hard lockdown. But the national government may implement a hard lockdown if it wants to.)

“Kami, nag-rerecommend lang. Ang sinasabi lang natin ay base sa nakikita nating datos—and we are just being transparent—tumataas pa rin siya [cases]. Dapat hanapan natin ng paraan para mapigilan,” he added.

(We just give recommendations. What we are just saying based on data—and we are just being transparent—is that cases are still increasing. We should look for ways to prevent the increase.)

A “flexible” MECQ was recommended by mayors of Metro Manila in April this year when COVID-19 cases also spiked.

Metropolitan Manila Development Authority Chairman Benhur Abalos explained that time that a flexible MECQ is a “middle ground” between MECQ and a looser general community quarantine, meaning strict border control and health protocols will still be implemented but more activities will be allowed.

OCTA Research earlier recommended a “circuit-breaking” lockdown or an early lockdown in order to stem the further spread of the COVID-19 Delta variant in the country.

The research group explained that an early lockdown will be a shorter lockdown as it would effectively bring down the cases ahead of time.

According to OCTA Research, hospitals in Metro Manila could be overwhelmed with COVID-19 cases by the end of August if an early lockdown is not imposed, considering how fast the Delta variant spreads.

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