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Reopening of malls will trigger 2nd wave of COVID-19 —Galvez


The chief implementer of the government’s COVID-19 response thumbed down calls to reopen malls amid the COVID-19 threat.

“Sa personal opinion ko, kapag binuksan agad natin ang mga mall posibleng magkaroon ng second wave ng COVID-19,” Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. said in an interview on Dobol B sa News TV.

Presidential Adviser on Entrepreneurship Joey Concepcion earlier proposed the gradual reopening of malls, prioritizing tenant stores with high consumer demand. 

Concepcion also recommended to allow public transport, construction, and all manufacturing activities to resume.

Galvez, however, said, “Kapag binuksan natin ang lahat ng negosyo maaaring malagay sa [alanganin] ang kalusugan ng mamayan.”

The Cabinet official said members of the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases have agreed that “we cannot rush the normalcy.”

Should the government push through in shifting from Luzon-wide enhanced community quarantine to “selective quarantine,” Galvez noted that the “new normal” will be observed in areas were quarantine was lifted.

“New normal is social distancing, wearing of masks, protecting elders... and big congregations wala na muna ‘yan,” he said.

“‘Yung mga i-o-open natin na mga negosyo kailangan responsable sa kanilang mga employee at kanilang mga buyer,” he said.

“Dapat hindi lang government ang nag-a-adjust. Dapat pati ang private sector,” he added.

In a separate interview, Concepcion agreed that the government should shift to selective quarantine.

“Rather than i-lockdown ang mga cities dapat sa barangay level lang,” he said.

“Attack the virus where it is, which is in the community,” Concepcion said.

The Luzon-wide enhanced community quarantine is in effect until April 30.

As of Friday, there were 5,878 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the country, according to the Department of Health. The death toll reached 387 while the number of recoveries totaled 487. —Ted Cordero/KG, GMA News

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