Gov't adviser Herbosa seeks MECQ for Metro Manila after August 20

Government adviser Dr. Ted Herbosa said Wednesday that the government should consider placing Metro Manila under modified enhanced community quarantine after August 20 amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Very important din na makapag-implement tayo, let’s say mas maluwag na MECQ ang i-implement after August 20, importante na iyong mga local chief executive mag-implement ng mga localized ECQ lalo na doon sa mga area na may outbreak pa or clustering of cases,” Herbosa said during the Laging Handa briefing.

(It is important for us to be placed under MECQ after August 20 and for the local executives to implement localized ECQ [lockdown] especially in areas where there is a COVID-19 outrbreak or clustering of cases.)

Metro Manila is under enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) from August 6 to 20, a protocol which only allows essential trips and essential services such as food and medicine to operate.

MECQ, on the other hand, partially allows other industries to operate.

“Kung opinion ko lang ang masusunod, kung ako ang namumuno sa IATF, bababa ako sa MECQ at paiigtingin ko iyong mga Mayor, iyong mga LGU, iyong localized lockdown, testing, at saka tracing doon sa mga lugar na ano. Para hindi lahat napapahamak iyong area na may clustering or pagdami masugpo kaagad, parang nagpapatay ka sa sunog sa iba’t ibang parte ng Metro Manila,” Herbosa added.

(If I will have my way, I will go back to MECQ and localized lockdowns should be accompanied COVID-19 testing and contact tracing. This is to immediately put out the fire in different parts of Metro Manila before it gets out of hand.)

Metro Manila was placed under ECQ amid increasing cases of the more infectious Delta variant which could infect as much as eight people in one setting.

Presidential spokespeson Harry Roque earlier said that quarantine classification for Metro Manila and other areas are expected to be announced on Thursday, August 19.

The Philippines has recorded at least 807 cases of Delta variant so far.

Likewise, the Philippines recorded over 14,000 new COVID-19 cases for two consecutive days, August 15 and 16, before it went down to 10,000 new COVID-19 cases on August 17.—AOL, GMA News