IATF on COVID-19 pandemic situation amid quarantine: Hindi pa tapos ang boksing

The fight against the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic is far from over three weeks since the enhanced community quarantine in Luzon was implemented, Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles said Wednesday.

“Mga kababayan, may mga nagtatanong sa akin: nasaan na tayo sa kampanya natin laban sa COVID-19? Ang sagot ko sa ngayon: ‘di pa po tapos ang boksing,” Nograles, also Interagency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases spokesperson, said in a press conference.

He made the observation two days after President Rodrigo Duterte extended the COVID-19 quarantine period—which banned mass transport and resulted in work stoppage in compliance with prohibition on mass gathering—until April 30.

“There are encouraging developments and signs that we have made inroads to containing this outbreak, but as we enter a critical period in our efforts to comprehensively assess the extent of the outbreak, we urge everyone to continue to be vigilant and do their part to prevent the spread of this disease,” he added.

Nograles earlier said the extended enhanced community quarantine will allow the country to isolate suspected COVID-19 cases to several quarantine facilities across the country.

He said it will also  enable the country to increase its capacity to test as much as 10,000 individuals per day by April 27 or three days before the target lifting of the COVID-19 quarantine period.

Secretary Carlito Galvez, Jr., chief implementor of the National Action Plan against COVID-19, also earlier assured the public that the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex, the PICC and the World Trade Center will be ready to accommodate COVID-19 patients and suspected COVID-19 cases this week. 

“We fast-tracked the completion of these facilities in order to decongest our hospitals and to protect our front liners,” Galvez said.

The gargantuan Philippine Arena in Bocaue, Bulacan, on the other hand, has also been converted as a COVID-19 quarantine facility and is expected to be ready next week. 

The Philippine Arena, a 55,000-seater indoor arena, is expected to serve patients from Quezon City, Caloocan, Malabon, Navotas, Valenzuela and Bulacan.

Aside from giving them rooms in the said quarantine facilities, the patients and medical workers will also be given free meals daily, as well as internet connection.

The Philippines has recorded 3,764 COVID-19 cases as of posting time. Of this number, 177 died while 84 others have recovered.

Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said most of the country's cases are concentrated in Metro Manila.

Meanwhile, more than 80,000 deaths due to COVID-19 worldwide have been reported. About four billion people have been quarantined in their homes as part of government measures to curb the spread of the disease. —AOL/KG, GMA News