OCTA: Granular lockdowns OK but 'intensive' manpower for LGUs needed

The proposed imposition of granular lockdowns in local government units (LGUs) may be helpful in preventing the further transmission of the coronavirus causing COVID-19 but localities may need additional manpower to improve its effectiveness, the OCTA Research Group said Sunday.

OCTA Research Fellow Dr. Guido David said "based on country's history," there is no evidence yet to prove the efficacy of granular lockdowns imposed in LGUs during a surge.

To increase the efficacy of granular lockdowns, David suggested LGUs adopt more interventions including having additional manpower.

"Kapag nagpatupad ng granular (lockdowns), manpower-intensive 'yan per local government. Kapag nagsara ng kalye, may magbabantay ng barangay employees. Tapos sila maghahatid ng pagkain," he said in an interview on Dobol B.

(If we impose granular lockdowns, it will be manpower intensive. If you close down a street, you need barangay employees to watch over that area. They will also need to distribute food.)

He also warned that LGUs have a limit to their granular lockdown in terms of area, which may not be effective if COVID-19 cases are already spreading in communities.

"May limit ang LGU sa mala-lockdown nila. Kung ang COVID natin kalat-kalat sa buong city, sabihin natin na 100 barangays sa LGUs, tapos manpower nila 50 barangays lang, kukulangin din," said David.

(The area under lockdowns may be limited. If COVID-19 is spreading all over the city, for example if an LGU has 100 villages but its manpower can only handle 50, it would not be enough.)

The Department of Health had projected that daily fresh COVID-19 cases in Metro Manila could breach 30,000 but it could be prevented with the help of granular lockdowns.

Authorities have yet to announce new quarantine classifications after September 7 but the Philippines recorded more than 20,000 new cases on Saturday. 

Also, on Saturday, the country's case tally rose to 2,061,084 with 1,869,376 recoveries and 34,062 deaths. —KG, GMA News