OCTA Group: Vaccine rollout should be prioritized over relaxing NCR quarantine

Two experts from the OCTA Research team underscored that the rollout of the COVID-19 vaccination program should be prioritized over the easing of quarantine measures in Metro Manila.

At a Laging Handa press briefing on Monday, Dr. Guido David was asked for comment on the possibility of placing the National Capital Region under modified general community quarantine (MGCQ) in the next months. 

David pointed out that it would be a problem if there will be a significant increase in the number of infections alongside with the vaccine rollout. 

"I think it's too early to risk an MGCQ at this stage lalo na the vaccine rollout is about to happen. Unahin muna natin 'yung vaccine rollout. We understand 'yung economy but the economy will recover more quickly once we start vaccinating more people," David said. 

"It's important na walang surge na nangyayari. We cannot risk a surge while we're rolling out the vaccine kasi it will delay the process of vaccination kung na-overwhelm 'yung hospitals and 'yung mga doctors nagkakasakit," he explained. 

Metro Manila is under general community quarantine (GCQ) for the entire February. 

Dr. Benjamin Co echoed the sentiment of David, noting that the COVID-19 vaccine rollout is "something to look forward to." 

"Mahirap pong kontrolin ang pandemya kung masyadong marami po ang magkakasakit," Co said. 

He added that there is also a need to encourage people to be vaccinated as vaccine hesitancy is quite high at the moment. 

Co believes that the vaccination program could lessen the severity of COVID-19 infections. This means the number of those who need to be confined in hospitals as well as the death toll will also decrease. 

"Number one, decrease the severity of the infections. So kung mababawasan 'yung pagiging severe ng impeksiyon, kung sakaling magkaroon tayo ng COVID, ay magandang senyales 'yun. It means we will have less deaths, we will have less people who will get severe infections and will need hospitalizations," Co said. 

It has been a year since the first infection of novel coronavirus was reported in the Philippines. The first case was a 38-year-old woman from Wuhan, China. 

Asked if the national government's efforts were enough in combating the spread of the virus, Co said officials must revisit and rethink what measures need improvement. 

"Considering kasi the limitations na mayroon tayo sa ating bansa, I would probably say the lockdowns are the only measure that we're able to utilize," Co said. 

"However, we need to revisit kung ano ang dapat nating iimprove doon sa ating mga health protocols para ma-improve natin both the economic and health sector kasi the longer the lockdown is, I know the economy is also on the frontline na natatamaan dahil dito sa pandemyang ito," he added. 

As of Sunday, the Philippines has recorded 525,618 COVID-19 cases, with 487,551 recoveries and 10,749 deaths. —KG, GMA News