Two-week MECQ not enough to stop COVID-19 spread, says Leachon

Placing Metro Manila and neighboring areas under a modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) for two weeks wouldn’t be enough to arrest the spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), a former government adviser said Monday.

According to Maki Pulido's report on "24 Oras," Dr. Tony Leachon, former special adviser to the National Task Force Against COVID-19, stressed that the best course of action was two weeks of ECQ and another two weeks of MECQ.

“Kung gagawa rin tayo ng intervention in two weeks’ time, then we have to give the best. Hindi tayo kasi puwedeng medya-medya e,” Leachon said.

If infections are still on the rise even after four weeks of strict quarantine, Leachon said it may be extended up to 100 days.

“We must understand that the Philippine health economy will never recover until we get the coronavirus under control,” he said.

“Now, if you don’t understand that as leaders of the country, then that’s a big problem because we’re actually preferring right now economy over health of the people,” Leachon added.

President Rodrigo Duterte approved the re-imposition of MECQ over Metro Manila and neighboring areas from August 4 to 18 following resounding calls from the medical community for a two-week “timeout” amid the surge in COVID-19 infections. 

Several medical groups earlier urged the government to declare ECQ for two weeks to give the healthcare system and workers a breather.

The Philippines has logged more than 106,000 COVID-19 cases as of Monday afternoon.  -Ma. Angelica Garcia/NB, GMA News