Roque insists COVID-19 figures don’t necessitate MECQ

The Philippines’ COVID-19 numbers do not show the need for Metro Manila to return to a modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ), presidential spokesman Harry Roque insisted Monday.

President Rodrigo Duterte earlier approved Metro Manila and neighboring areas’ return to MECQ from August 4 to 18 in response to medical groups’ call for a two-week “timeout” to stem the surge of infections. 

According to Joseph Morong’s report on “24 Oras,” Roque said the government would not have taken this move if not for the pleas of the medical community.

“In fact, kung titingnan niyo ang datos, ‘yung case doubling rate natin ay almost nine days at hindi po yan nagka-qualify for MECQ,” he said.

The Department of Health (DOH) said the country’s case doubling time was at 9.04 days while the mortality doubling time stood at 13.14 days as of August 3, still far off from the target of 30 days.

“Meron po tayong pagsubok do’n sa ating critical care capacity pero hindi pa naman po fully utilized ‘yan, ibig sabihin po we were within the criteria para magkaroon po ng general community quarantine,” Roque added.

The DOH said 55% of intensive care unit beds, 52% of isolation beds, and 54% of ward beds nationwide were occupied as of August 2 while 31% of mechanical ventilators were in use.

The Philippines has recorded 106,330 COVID-19 cases with 65,821 recoveries and 2,104 deaths as of Monday afternoon.  — Julia Mari Ornedo/BM, GMA News