IATF to review decisions on loosened restrictions amid surge in COVID-19 cases —Dizon

The government task force handling the COVID-19 response will review this week its decisions to loosen restrictions amid the recent increase in COVID-19 cases, testing czar Vince Dizon said Monday.

Among the decisions that will be reviewed by the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) is the opening of cinemas, Dizon, the deputy chief implementer of the National Task Force Against COVID-19, told Super Radyo dzBB.

"Ire-review po this week 'yan, sa mga susunod na araw ire-review po iyan ng IATF ang kanilang rekomendasyon dahil nga mahigit dumoble ang mga kaso since lumabas yung mga desisyon na 'yan," he said.

"Kelangan po talagang i-review at repasuhin ang mga desisyon na iyon nitong mga susunod na araw."

The IATF will also review if barangay quarantine passes will be again required for those who will leave their homes to perform essential duties, Dizon said, although he added that a return to strictest quarantine protocol is not yet being considered.

"Sa mga susunod na araw ay magkakaroon tayo ng klarong desisyon," he said.

Protocols regarding entry of local tourists in will also be part of the review, Dizon added.

The number of COVID-19 cases has been going up at a faster rate lately, and for the past three days, more than 3,000 new cases have been reported.

The Philippines’ tally of COVID-19 cases leapt to 594,412 on Sunday after the Department of Health (DOH) reported 3,276 new infections. Of the total, 36,043 are active cases undergoing treatment of quarantine, of which 90.6% are mild, 4.2% are asymptomatic, 2.2% are critical, 2.1% are severe and 0.91% are moderate.

On Saturday, the DOH confirmed there is an upward trend in the number of confinement of COVID-19 patients in hospitals over the past weeks.

Meanwhile, OCTA Research said Metro Manila is projected to record 2,400 new COVID-19 cases per day by March 26 given the increased mobility as restrictions are eased.

Facing this scenario, Dizon said the government will fast-track the rollout of available vaccines. He said a million doses of Sinovac vaccines are set to arrive this March, and by May or June, vaccines from Moderna and Novavax will arrive in the country.  —KBK, GMA News