Areas with zero COVID-19 transmission should be classified under new normal -Roque

Areas that have registered zero transmission of COVID-19 in a month should be classified under “new normal,” presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said Monday.

Roque said his colleagues at the  Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases were receptive to the idea of reintroducing the new normal classification for an area that is not under any form of community quarantine.

“We’re still data driven and guided by science,” Roque said in a news conference.

“Ako mismo nagmungkahi at nag-agree naman ang IATF na there will be areas na merong zero transmission in the past month na pupuwede nang i-deklara as under the regime of new normal.”

The IATF previously said that minimum public health standards and the ban on large gatherings will continue to remain in force under the new normal.

Roque issued the remark after Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez favored a modified general community quarantine status for other places in the country after September 30.  Metro Manila is currently under general community quarantine.

“Maaari po natin i-push ang mas magaan na community quarantine, subalit ang importante po ay may self-discipline at self-regulation ang buong bayan para talagang bumaba pa rin ang transmission kahit modified GCQ, that will allow us to open more sectors in the economy,” Lopez said at the Laging Handa briefing.

Roque said several factors will be considered to determine the next quarantine status of Metro Manila such as case doubling time and critical care capacity.

He said the capital region’s case doubling time is around 13 to 14 days. The minimum requirement under MGCQ is 28 days.

“Medyo malayo pa ang tatahakin natin,” Roque said.—AOL, GMA News