ADVERTISEMENT
Treatment czar backs extended MECQ in NCR
By HANA BORDEY,GMA NewsTo sustain the gains in the healthcare system amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Health Undersecretary Leopoldo Vega, the country's "treatment czar," on Wednesday voiced support to the proposal to extend the modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) in Metro Manila after April 30.
“Sangayon ako sa mga Metro Manila mayors na kung puwede ma-extend muna itong status na ito para ma-preserve natin ang ating mga nakamit sa health capacity,” Vega said in an interview with Dobol B TV.
(I am in favor with the Metro Manila mayors’ proposal to extend the status to preserve what we have improved in our health capacity.)
Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) chairman Benhur Abalos earlier said Metro Manila mayors have agreed to recommend a “flexible MECQ” -- which is essentially an extension of the currently-imposed lockdown protocol but with additional businesses allowed to open -- to the national government.
Vega explained that the government might lose the “gains” or adjustments in the healthcare system if the quarantine protocols will be relaxed.
“Ang ating nakuhang mga plus factor sa health capacity natin bago lang natin to nakuha. Siguro mga third week pa lang tayo, nung nabuksan natin ‘yung ganitong number of beds,” he said.
(We have just attained the plus factors in our health capacity. We are just on our third week since we have reached the current number of beds that we have.)
ADVERTISEMENT
“Ngayon, kung bigla kang magbukas, sayang naman hindi natin ma-preserve yung gains kasi mamaya baka mahihirapan tayo,” he added.
(Now, if we relax the restrictions, we will not preserve the gains and we might struggle again later on.)
So far, Vega said they were able to increase the intensive care unit beds in Metro Manila from 871 to 931 beds.
He added that the treatment and hospital facilities are not yet ready for general community quarantine (GCQ) as the government’s expansion of healthcare system is still underway.
“Hindi pa tayo ready. Hindi pa naka-plasta ang mga strategies lalo na sa mga field modular hospital. Kasi kapag natapos ang mga field modular hospitals, mga 60 days from now, eh maganda na panlaban na po ‘yun,” he said.
(We are not yet ready. Our strategies are not yet ready especially the field modular hospitals. Once these field modular hospitals are done, maybe 60 days from now, then we will have better facilities.)
Earlier, the Department of Health said they are seeking to put up five more modular hospitals across the country by June. These facilities will be established in Metro Manila, Batangas, and Davao. —KBK, GMA News