Lorenzana says another month of GCQ won’t hurt Metro Manila

Another month of general community quarantine (GCQ) will not adversely affect the National Capital Region, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said on Tuesday.

At a press briefing, Lorenzana was asked when could the national government place Metro Manila under a more eased quarantine status. He said a lot of localities in the region are scared that if quarantine status will be relaxed, COVID-19 cases will again increase.

"Actually, maraming LGUs sa Metro Manila na gusto ng mag-MGCQ (modified general community quarantine) kaya lang mayroon pang iba din na who would like to continue with GCQ para maplantsa nila 'yung mga ginagawa para dire-diretso na..." Lorenzana, chairman of the National Task Force against COVID-19, said.

"They are very afraid that if they will loosen up, it will spike again, babalik na naman tayo sa MECQ. I think one month more will not hurt us, it will help us a lot," he added.

President Rodrigo Duterte retained the GCQ over Metro Manila as well as in Batangas, Tacloban, Iloilo, Bacolod, and Iligan. Lanao Del Sur, meanwhile, was placed under modified enhanced community quarantine.

The rest of the country will be under modified GCQ, the President said.

The latest quarantine classifications will be in effect until October 31.

So far, the Philippines has recorded a total of 307,288 COVID-19 cases, with 252,665 recoveries and 5,381 deaths. — RSJ, GMA News