THERE won’t be any re-imposition of a hard lockdown — for now, says presidential spokesperson Secretary Harry Roque.
In a statement, Roque categorically ruled out the possibility of an enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) this month, even as he insisted that the situation remains under control.
According to Roque, the government’s health care system can still handle the spike in the number of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases in the country.
Roque, however, could not vouch as to what is bound to happen next month.
He said the decision whether to implement a stricter lockdown in April will depend on the situation of isolation facilities, intensive care units (ICUs), and bed capacities nationwide.
“For the month of March, it is not yet possible. Just like what I said, we still have 55 percent available ICU beds, we have around 60 percent available bed wards and 60 percent for our isolation facilities,” Roque said.
Declaration of an ECQ or modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) in April, he explained, largely depends on the rate of transmission (ROT), which is now at 1.9.
“We still don’t know. If we cannot bring down the ROT of 1.9, this means for one person being tested positive for COVID-19, at least two are infected, this is quite fast. We do not know what will happen in April,” Roque added.
“That is why we are closely monitoring the situation but the good news is we know how to handle those who are afflicted with the virus and we are more equipped to save lives,” he noted.
Exactly a year ago, President Rodrigo Duterte placed the entire country under the most stringent lockdown that caught the entire population unprepared.