IATF weighs between ECQ extension and MECQ in Metro Manila

Will Metro Manila revert to a modified ECQ after August 20? IATF weighs on the issue. FILE PHOTO/AFP

MANILA, Philippines — While favoring the extension of the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) in Metro Manila, Interior Secretary Eduardo Año said on Thursday that the Interagency Taskforce on Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) will decide between extending the current quarantine status or shift to the modified ECQ in the metropolis.

“Ang choice natin, pwedeng i-retain ang ECQ for another week or until end of the month, or pwedeng bababa tayo sa MECQ,” Año, who is part of the IATF, said over dzBB.

(Our choice is between retaining ECQ for another week or until the end of the month, or we may downgrade to MECQ.)

“More or less nga yan sana ang magandang set-up eh, pwedeng tapusin natin hanggang katapusan ng buwan, para ma-maximize natin ‘yung ECQ para sa pagdi-distribute ng ayuda, pagbabakuna natin, at saka makapagpahinga naman ‘yung ating mga healthcare workers,” he said of the ECQ extension.

(More or less that’s a better set up, we could finish ECQ by the end of the month, so we could maximize it for the distribution of aid, vaccination, and so our healthcare workers could take a rest.)

The interior secretary said the IATF will tackle the new quarantine classification in a meeting on Thursday.

Metro Manila mayors have also deferred to IATF the decision for the new quarantine classification in the metropolis.

Metro Manila is under ECQ until Friday.

EDV