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Sotto welcomes shift to modified ECQ: Rushing back to 'old normal' will be reckless
By DONA MAGSINO, GMA News The shift of high-risk areas to a modified enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) amid the COVID-19 pandemic was welcomed by Senate President Vicente Sotto III on Tuesday.
"Rushing back to the 'old' normal, or even just a semblance of it, will be reckless. It will expose majority of our people to the continuing threat of the infectious novel coronavirus and open the gates for a second wave, which could be more vicious and difficult to handle," Sotto said in a statement.
While acknowledging that a lot of workers, especially in Metro Manila, are yearning to return to work to make a living again, Sotto said it would be best to "proceed on the side of caution and not throw away the gains of our sacrifices for almost two months."
The entire Luzon has been placed under enhanced community quarantine from March 17 to April 30. Metro Manila and other high-risk areas were placed under an extended period of quarantine measures until May 15.
Earlier in the day, the government announced that starting May 16, these high-risk areas will enter a modified ECQ where operations of selected manufacturing and processing plants up to a maximum of 50% workforce will be allowed.
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Transportation will remain limited for essential goods and services.
Further, Sotto said those living in areas which have now been placed under general community quarantine (GCQ) should practice discipline.
"Ngayon natin makikita ang disiplina at responsibilidad ng bawat isa sa atin," he said.
"Walang sinuman sa atin ang gustong bumalik ulit sa ECQ. Nakasalalay sa ating lahat ang success o failure ng ating laban kontra COVID-19," he added.
As of May 11, the Philippines recorded a total of 11,086 COVID-19 cases with 1,999 recoveries and 726 deaths.
Of this total number of infected people, 7,123 were in Metro Manila.—AOL, GMA News