Friday, March 29, 2024

Duterte To Announce New Quarantine Status In PH On Aug. 17

Spotlight

Medical Experts Recommend Strict Health Protocols For Public Transportation

Medical experts are calling for strict health protocols among commuters to be able to increase the public transport capacity which is currently operating on...

Commuters Call For Increase Of Seating Capacity On Public Utility Vehicles, Urges DOH To Release Data Breakdown To Stop Undue Worry

In cities with a limited number of public transport vehicles plying the road, the commuting sector is asking government to consider increasing jeepney’s seating...

Clean Air Philippines Movement Inc. (CAPMI) Releases Statement On Social Distancing

The Clean Air Philippines Movement Inc. (CAPMI) releases statement on social distancing on mass transport. According to CAPMI, in order to reduce physical distancing inside...

24K Jeepney, Tricycle, and UV Express Drivers Receive Food Packs From SM Foundation

Over 24,000 drivers were given relief goods from the SM Foundation.



President Rodrigo Duterte is expected to announce the new classifications of community quarantine in the country on August 17, Malacañang said on Thursday.

Duterte would deliver a public address on Monday to present the new quarantine rules nationwide starting August 18, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said in a virtual press conference.

“Inaasahan po natin na magme-mensahe sa taumbayan muli ang ating Presidente sa August 17 kung saan ia-anunsiyo rin niya kung ano ‘yung mga bagong classification (We expect the President to deliver a message to the public on August 17 to announce the new [quarantine] classifications),” Roque said.

On July 30, Duterte downgraded the quarantine status in Cebu City to a less restrictive general community quarantine (GCQ) from the stricter modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ).

Aside from Cebu City, Duterte also initially implemented GCQ in Metro Manila and the provinces of Bulacan, Batangas, Cavite, Laguna, and Rizal from August 1 to 15.

GCQ was also imposed in Talisay City, Minglanilla, and Consolacion in Cebu province.

However, Metro Manila and the provinces of Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna, and Rizal were eventually placed under MECQ from August 4 to 18 following the appeal of medical front-liners to avoid the collapse of the country’s health care system amid the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic.

Modified GCQ (MGCQ), the least restrictive community quarantine, was implemented in the rest of the country until August 15.

Roque said the current quarantine classifications in all parts of the country, except in areas under MECQ, are set to lapse on August 15.

“Meron na pong rekomendasyon (There is already a recommendation) for all other areas, except for Metro Manila and four provinces under MECQ. So I think it is without prejudice na hanggang 15 lang ‘yung (that quarantine classifications will end on August 15 in) all other areas other than Metro Manila and the four provinces,” he said.

 

MGCQ in Metro Manila a ‘remote possibility’

Roque reiterated that it would be “highly unlikely” for Duterte to extend the MECQ status in Metro Manila and its nearby provinces, unless the proposed Bayanihan to Recover as One Act (Bayanihan 2) contains a provision that would grant cash aid to poor families who have to bear the brunt of the implementation of stricter quarantine measures.

He said there was a “remote possibility” that Metro Manila might be under MGCQ, considering that there will be 250 additional beds for Covid-19 patients at the East Avenue Medical Center in Quezon City by August 17.

“It’s a remote possibility,” Roque said. “Baka meron pang possibility na mag-MGCQ na dahil napakalaki na ng critical care capacity ng Metro Manila with additional 250-bed capacity (Perhaps, there is a possibility that Metro Manila might be under MGCQ because of its improved critical care capacity, with (an) additional 250-bed capacity.”

He, however, clarified that he was merely “speculating”, adding that the final recommendation would still come from the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID), subject to Duterte’s approval.

“Let me correct. I was just speculating. It’s a decision of the IATF,” Roque said. (PNA)




[fbcomments width=”1000″]

Latest News

Medical Experts Recommend Strict Health Protocols For Public Transportation

Medical experts are calling for strict health protocols among commuters to be able to increase the public transport capacity which is currently operating on...

Commuters Call For Increase Of Seating Capacity On Public Utility Vehicles, Urges DOH To Release Data Breakdown To Stop Undue Worry

In cities with a limited number of public transport vehicles plying the road, the commuting sector is asking government to consider increasing jeepney’s seating...

Clean Air Philippines Movement Inc. (CAPMI) Releases Statement On Social Distancing

The Clean Air Philippines Movement Inc. (CAPMI) releases statement on social distancing on mass transport. According to CAPMI, in order to reduce physical distancing inside...

Gov’t Reminds Filipino Healthcare Workers Of Deployment Ban

The national government is reminding Filipino healthcare workers of a temporary deployment ban in the wake of the public health emergency caused by the...

Plans Need Harmonized Response Up To Local Level: Galvez

The second phase of the government's national action plan (NAP) against the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic seeks to ensure smooth crisis response from the...

‘Strict’ Enforcement Of Localized Lockdowns In GCQ Zones Ordered

Despite the further relaxation of quarantine rules nationwide, the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) has ordered the “strict”...

No More Extension Of Moratorium For LSI, ROFs

The city government will no longer extend the requested moratorium on the arrival of locally stranded individuals (LSIs) and returning overseas Filipinos (ROFs) coming...

24K Jeepney, Tricycle, and UV Express Drivers Receive Food Packs From SM Foundation

Over 24,000 drivers were given relief goods from the SM Foundation.

SM Foundation Allocates Ventilators To Hospitals With High COVID-19 Cases

SM Foundation donates 25 ICU-grade ventilators to hospitals with high COVID-19 cases across the country, as part of its continuing pandemic response.