IATF may decide on fate of community quarantine in NCR, other areas on Wednesday -Palace

The government’s coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) task force may decide on Wednesday whether to further ease restrictions in Metro Manila and other areas under modified enhanced community quarantine, Malacañang said Tuesday.

The Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases will meet on Wednesday to discuss the fate of community quarantines after May 31. Its decision is subject to the final approval of President Rodrigo Duterte.

“Hihintayin na po natin ang magiging desisyon ng ating IATF dahil inaasahan naman po natin na bukas ay baka mayroon nang desisyon. Ang importante po, titingnan natin ang doubling rate, ang critical care capacity at siyempre atensiyon din sa ating ekonomiya,” presidential spokesperson Harry Roque Jr. said at a televised briefing.

At present, only the cities of Cebu and Mandaue are under the enhanced community quarantine.

Metro Manila, Laguna, Bataan, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, Angeles City and Zambales will be under modified ECQ until May 31 unless earlier lifted or extended by the government while the rest of the country is under the less strict general community quarantine. 

Majority of the country’s more than 14,000 COVID-19 cases were recorded in Metro Manila. -MDM, GMA News