The government is considering the "total health" of Filipinos in deciding whether to ease COVID-19 protocols in the Greater Manila Area, Malacañang said Monday as the modified enhanced community quarantine or MECQ is set to expire this week.
While the Inter-Agency Task Force on COVID-19 pandemic response has yet to discuss the fate of 24 million people in the so-called NCR Plus Bubble, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said "it is possible" to shift to GCQ since authorities have seen improvements in the COVID-19 situation.
"Kung i-aapply po natin ang formula, tingnan niyo po, nasa moderate na ang ating healthcare utilization rate tapos yung ating attack rate ay bumababa na rin po," Roque said in a Palace press briefing.
The MECQ in Metro Manila, Bulacan, Laguna, Cavite, and Rizal is set to last until May 14. Since last month, some 24 million people in the said areas have been under strict COVID-19 protocols to control a surge in virus infections that overwhelmed the healthcare system.
"Ang importante po ay makamit natin ang total health kasi kung ang iiwasan lang natin eh ang magkakasakit sa COVID o mamamatay sa COVID, mas madami po kasi ang posibleng maghirap dahil sa kahirapan habang tayo ay nakasarado ang ekonomiya," Roque said.
Socioeconomic Planning Sec. Karl Chua earlier said that the Greater Manila Area needed to move out of MECQ to help revive economic activity.
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