Gov’t adviser rules out China-like lockdown after May 9 polls

Workers in protective suits keep watch on a street during a lockdown, amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, in Shanghai, China, April 16, 2022. REUTERS/Aly Song

MANILA, Philippines — A government adviser has ruled out the possibility of lockdowns similar to the ones being enforced in China after the May 9 polls amid concerns of a surge in COVID-19 cases in the wake of mass gatherings held ahead of the elections.

“Yung lockdown na ginagawa sa China hindi na natin gagawin [We will no longer resort to a lockdown similar to China],” National Task Force (NTF) Against COVID-19 adviser Dr. Teodoro Herbosa said during Friday’s Laging Handa briefing.

Shanghai has been on lockdown since March to address the COVID-19 outbreak there.

“Ang sistema natin ngayon ay alert level at localized lockdown, kahit mag-Alert Level 5 tayo, hindi naman tayo mag-lockdown ng buong Metro Manila, ang ila-lockdown lang natin yung mga lugar na mataas ang incidents ng new cases,” Herbosa said.

(Our system now is to enforce the alert level and localized lockdowns, even if we reach Alert Level 5, we will not impose a lockdown over the whole of Metro Manila, we will only lockdown areas which record high incidents of new cases.)

“So localized lockdown ang approach natin at testing pa rin ang expanded targeted testing, ma-test ang maraming tao doon sa lugar na localized ang lockdown para mai-isolate kaagad yung mga taong magpa-positive,” he added.

(We have a localized lockdown approach and we still have testing, expanded targeted testing, to test people in places under a localized lockdown so we can isolate those who test positive.)

Further, Herbosa said there are now more measures available to track COVID-19 cases and immediately isolate them to prevent the spread of infection.

“Nakakagamit tayo ng antigen tests pagka nagkaroon tayo ang outbreak ulit. So, hindi dapat mangamba yung ating mga kababayan, mas naiintindihan na natin itong sakit na ‘to, may bakuna pa kaya kita naman natin, epektibo talaga yung bakuna, nakabalik tayo sa Alert Level 1 na parang normal,” he said.

(We have antigen tests if we have an outbreak again. So, our fellow Filipinos need not be alarmed, we have gained more understanding of this disease, and we are vaccinating and we can see its effect, we were able to return to Alert Level 1, where we see a sense of normalcy.)

“May face-to-face classes na, may opisina na, at umaandar ang ating mga public transport [There are already face-to-face classes, there is on-site work, and public transport],” he added.

Nevertheless, Herbosa reminded the public to still be mindful of minimum health protocols and to stay at home if manifesting COVID-19 symptoms.

Around 65.7 million Filipinos are registered to cast their votes on May 9. Voting will run from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m.

/MUF