Economy a factor in recommending COVID-19 quarantine measures, says DOH

The Department of Health's coordinates with other agencies of governments as regards recommendations on the levels of community quarantine in certain areas to control the spread of COVID-19, its spokesperson said on Wednesday.

Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire made the statement following Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III’s recommendation to move Metro Manila and Calabarzon to a more lenient quarantine classification to revive the economy.

“Mananatili pong makikipagtulungan ang DOH sa iba pang mga ahensya upang siguraduhin na kasama sa paggawa ng rekomendasyon ukol sa quarantine measures ang kalusugan ng mga Pilipino at ang ating ekonomiya,” Vergeire said.

“Sumasang-ayon po kami na dapat balanse ang pangangalaga sa kalusugan ng mga Pilipino at ang ating socioeconomic situation,” she added in a briefing.

“Ang DOH ang ahensyang responsable sa pagbibigay ng technical guidelines… Mula sa mga rekomendasyong ito ay gagawa ng batas ang ibang mga ahensya upang maipatupad ito,” Vergeire said.

Dominguez earlier urged the government’s inter-agency COVID-19 task force to loosen restrictions in Metro Manila and Calabarzon since “that is where the economy is based” and vouched for targeted lockdowns over sweeping community quarantines.

President Rodrigo Duterte has retained the enhanced community quarantine over Cebu City and general community quarantine over Metro Manila until July 15. -NB, GMA News