MANILA, Philippines—People are much more mobile this time than they were during previous lockdowns, so more restrictions may have to be imposed under the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ), a researcher from the OCTA Research said Tuesday.
Prof. Guido David of OCTA noted that ECQ quarantine restrictions are less stringent than those in place during March and last year.
Many Metro Manila residents have not been deterred from organizing social gatherings by the ECQ, David lamented.
“Hindi kasing higpit ‘yung ECQ ngayon kumpara noong March and even ‘yung last year in terms of mobility. ‘Yung mobility na nakikita ngayon ay mas mataas noong nakaraang ECQ noong March at saka last year,” he said in a televised public briefing.
(The ECQ now is not as tight as compared to that in March or even last year’s in terms of mobility. The mobility now is higher than that seen in the ECQ last March and last year.)
“Pwede pa talagang mahigpitan nang kaunti ‘yung restrictions,” he said.
(The restrictions could still be tightened.)
For the sake of preventing the spread of coronavirus, he urged the public not to violate quarantine rules such as social gatherings.
David noted that this increase of COVID-19 cases now is “slightly similar” to that seen in March this year but this time the rise of infections was slower, making the spike more surprising.
“Sa ngayon nag-umpisa siya [increase] medyo mabagal siya and that’s why ‘yung iba, hindi nila masyado nakita ‘yung taas ng bilang ng kaso pero bigla siya nag accelerate, bigla bumilis ‘yung pagdami ng bilang ng kaso,” he added.
(This time, the increase was slower that’s why some did not notice it at first then the cases dramatically rose.)
This is due to the “replacement of the virus with the new variants,” he added.
David also pointed out that there is also a rise in COVID-19 infections in the pediatric population. He said the proportion of pediatric cases in Metro Manila rose from 7% in July to 11% to 12% in August.
“Ibig sabihin mas maraming mga bata ang nahahawaan,” he added.
(This means more children are getting infected with the coronavirus.)
An infectious disease expert earlier attributed the rise of COVID-19 infections among children to the spread of the highly contagious COVID-19 Delta variant.