COVID-19 cases, social distancing swayed Duterte decision -Palace

The continued rise in COVID-19 infections and the results of the initial implementation of social distancing in Metro Manila factored in President Rodrigo Duterte's decision to impose an enhanced community quarantine on Luzon, Malacañang said Monday.

In an interview on GMA News, Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said that developments in recent days prompted Duterte to take “drastic” measures to arrest the rapidly spreading coronavirus.

“There is a drastic need to implement more stringent measures kasi si Presidente nag-aalala na kapag hindi natin napahinto ‘to eh lahat tayo tatamaan,” Panelo said.

Panelo cited the number of COVID-19 cases, which rose to 140 on Sunday, with 12 deaths, and reports that social distancing was still not being properly observed at border points in Metro Manila.

However, the Palace official said the guidelines for the implementation of the enhanced community quarantine have yet to be approved by the President.

“Iyon ay rekomendasyon pa lang. hindi pa ‘yun naaprubahan ni Presidente. ‘Yun nga ang pinag-uusapan, magkakaroon nga ng mga guidelines para maipaliwanag kung ano ang effect ng enhanced community quarantine sa Luzon,” Panelo said.

Based on the guidelines released by the Palace last Saturday, the government had the option to resort to an enhanced community quarantine, in which stricter home quarantines would be implemented in all households, transportation would be suspended, provision for food and essential health services would be regulated, and the presence of uniformed personnel to enforce quarantine procedures would be increased. — DVM, GMA News