Año says ‘new normal’ may be enforced in some areas by July

For Interior Secretary Eduardo Año, the "new normal" phase will be observed in some areas beginning July.

Interviewed on Dobol B sa News TV on Friday, Año said community quarantine protocols should still be enforced in most areas this June because "fresh" cases of COVID-19 cases are still being listed.

"Ang MGCQ, pag bababaan mo na, ito 'yung tinatawag natin na bagong normal o new normal. Sa tingin natin, sa kabuuan ng June, wala pang ready na lugar na pumunta sa bagong normal. Kasi kailangan ng masusing pagaaral pa diyan dahil 'yung mga paligid niya ay may mga bagong cases pa din. Hindi siya under ng MGCQ," Año said.

"So, ang tinitingnan natin, sa July pa talaga magkakaroon ng new normal na gagraduate sa MGQC," he added.

Earlier, the national government released the guidelines covering the implementation of all the community quarantine measures to contain the spread of COVID-19.

According to presidential spokesman Harry Roque, the new normal refers to the new practices and minimum health standards which the public must be used to as there is no vaccine yet for COVID-19. This is the phase after the modified general community quarantine.

"New normal ay tumutukoy sa bagong mga ugali, mga sitwasyon at minimum public health standards na dapat makasanayan habang wala pang malawakang pagbabakuna na magpapahinto sa COVID-19," Roque had said.

Earlier, Año said it is most likely that the National Capital Region will remain under general community quarantine beyond June 15.

He added that the national government is also monitoring the situation in Regions II, III, IV-A and in Cebu City where there is a spike on the number of infections in the previous days. — RSJ, GMA News