League of Provinces suggests lifting ECQ in LGUs without COVID-19 cases

The League of Provinces of the Philippines (LPP) on Thursday recommended lifting the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) in local government units (LGUs) with zero coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases.

Interviewed on Dobol B sa News TV, LPP president and Marinduque Governor Presbitero Velasco Jr. said the duration of quarantine already exceeded the incubation period of the virus, which is two weeks.

“Ang posisyon ng LGUs po ay meron na pong bayan at lalawigan na pwede po sigurong i-lift ‘yung ECQ,” Velasco said.

“Ang tagal na po ng incubation period. Halos 40 days na po, wala na po kaming nakikitang infected,” he added.

He said island provinces like Marinduque and Romblon should be excluded from the ECQ since these areas are isolated.

“Sa tingin ko, pwede naman palawigin 'yung ECQ lalo po doon sa National Capital Region at baka sa ibang lugar na medyo maraming positive cases,” he said.

The Luzon-wide quarantine, which began on March 17, is scheduled to end on April 30. President Rodrigo Duterte is expected to decide on its extension or lifting on Thursday.

Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire earlier said the rate of transmission of COVID-19 in the Philippines is slowing down amid the ongoing ECQ.

As of Wednesday, the Department of Health reported 6,710 COVID-19 cases with 446 fatalities and 693 recoveries.—AOL, GMA News