ECQ timely, public should refrain from unnecessary travel –health groups

Several medical groups on Sunday said the week-long enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) imposed on Metro Manila and nearby provinces was "timely" and would prevent the rise of COVID-19 cases in communities.

Philippine College of Physicians President Dr. Mario Panaligan said the strictest lockdown would also assist in preventing the contagion of COVID-19 variants, which had spread all over Metro Manila. 

Panaligan also pointed out that health workers had caught the severe viral ailment.

"Napapanahon na gawin na 'yan talagang padami nang padami ang COVID-19 (cases), ang UK at South African variant na talagang nakakahawa. Napakaraming nagkakasakit, pati yung mga doctors at nurses, sila rin naadmit e," Panaligan said on Dobol B TV.

(It is timely to do this since cases are increasing, the UK and South African variants are more contagious. Even nurses, doctors are being admitted to hospitals.)

But the lockdown and vaccination will not be enough to suppress COVID-19 spread, thus Panaligan urged the public and officials to follow and implement minimum health standards.

"Nahihirapan na tayo pigilan. Kailangan mapahinto ang pagsasama sama at maigting ang nagimplement ng minimum health standards," he said.

(We are having difficulties in preventing the spread. We need to stop mass gatherings and we need to impose stricter health rules.)

"Kahit nandiyan ang bakuna, hindi pa rin ang sapat. Hindi lang bakuna ang pwede nating gawin, kailangan pa ring pagpatuloy ang social distancing," the health group chief added.

(Social distancing needs to be implemented even as the vaccines are already here.)

Philippine Hospital Association chief Dr. Jaime Almora, for his part, said the lockdown would help arrest the COVID-19 contagion and the public must go out for essential travel only.

"Makakatulong. Importante pero ang talagang importanteng makakatulong, 'yung attitude ng tao tungkol sa sakit at sa lifestyle... Kailangan bawasan 'yung paglabas-labas kung hindi naman necessary," he said in another interview on Dobol B TV.

(It would help especially the public's attitude on lifestyle and COVID-19. They need to lessen their movements especially if it is unnecessary.)

The strictest quarantine status will take effect from March 29 to April 4 after the country posted more than 9,000 additional cases in the past two days. — DVM, GMA News