ECQ slowed doubling time of COVID-19 cases, says DOH

The doubling of confirmed coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases in the Philippines was cut down by half by the Luzon-wide enhanced community quarantine (ECQ), the Department of Health (DOH) said on Tuesday.

Over a month since the ECQ was declared on March 17, the doubling time of cases has slowed down to an average of five days from the previously-recorded three days.

“Ito ay malaking improvement pero siyempre mas gusto natin na higit sa 30 araw ang ating doubling time,” Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said at a virtual press briefing.

Infectious disease expert Dr. Edsel Salvana from the University of the Philippines National Institutes of Health earlier noted that the three-day doubling time from March 28 to 31 has slowed to 14 days from April 4 to 18.

“At a little over 200 cases a day holding steady for the last few days, there is little doubt the ECQ has succeeded in slowing down the spread of COVID-19,” he said in a Facebook post. 

Vergeire also stressed that the goal of the ECQ was not to eliminate new COVID-19 cases but to flatten the curve or slow down transmission.

She said that the quarantine bought the country more time to prepare personal protective gear, test kits, testing centers, isolation rooms, and mechanical ventilators, among others.

The DOH also reported that confirmed cases are still concentrated in Metro Manila, with around 30 provinces across the country still free from COVID-19. 

“May pagkalat na nangyayari sa ibang parte ng bansa, ngunit meron pa ring mga probinsya na walang pa ring kaso o matagal ang pagtaas ng kaso,” Vergeire said.

The DOH warned, however, that the “good news” on the COVID-19 situation in the country must be sustained by the public by observing social distancing, proper handwashing, cough etiquette, and cleaning of high-touch surfaces.

“Ang dalawang good news na ito ay hindi permanente,” Vergeire said. “Kaya ‘wag na ‘wag po tayo magiging complacent. Puwedeng pumangit ang balita kung tayo ay biglang bibitaw sa ating mga responsibilidad.”

The Philippines reported 140 new COVID-19 cases on Tuesday for a total of 6,599 with 654 recoveries and 437 deaths. 

The ECQ is set to expire on April 30, but President Rodrigo Duterte is expected to announce his decision on its possible extension or modification within the week. —LDF, GMA News