No talks about lockdown so far amid spike in COVID-19 cases —Lorenzana

There are no discussions yet regarding the enforcement of stricter lockdowns, despite the surge in the number of COVID-19 infections, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said Friday.

As chairman of the national task force enforcing the government's COVID-19 measures, he said the burden of preventing the further rise in infections now falls on the shoulders of local government units.

So far, the national task force has not discussed the topic on lockdowns. But we are urging LGUs to ensure a heightened observance of health protocols as people seem have grown complacent since the first batches of vaccines arrived, Lorenzana told reporters in Filipino.

"We are giving the burden to the local government units," he said, adding that LGUs seem to have relaxed their enforcement of the health protocols. "That's why we are throwing it back to them." 

Lorenzana admitted that the increase in COVID-19 infections is alarming. He said hospitals would be overwhelmed if the number of infections will continue to rise.

Also, the Defense chief mentioned that Health Secretary Francisco Duque III already directed hospitals to increase their COVID-19 beds from 20 to 35%.

"The IATF chairman, Sec. Duque, requested or directed the hospitals to increase their COVID beds from 20% to 35% to accommodate new cases," Lorenzana said.

"Anyway, most of these are mild cases and they will be released pretty soon," he said.

Only serious cases of COVID-19 would be retained in hospitals, he added. 

As of Thursday afternoon, the Philippines has recorded 640,984 cases with 561,530 recoveries and 12,887 deaths.

Half of the country’s 57,746 active COVID-19 cases are in Metro Manila, the epicenter of the pandemic in the country. —LBG, GMA News