IATF To Tackle ECQ Lifting Or Extension

The government task force on top of fighting the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak will seek today to reach a consensus on the proposed next official action after April 30 when the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) in Luzon ends.

- Genalyn D. Kabiling, Hannah L. Torregoza, Argyll Cyrus B. Geducos, And Martin A. Sadongdong

Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles said the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) is expected to hold extensive discussions on the “possible scenarios after April 30.”

Senator Christopher “Bong” Go said President Duterte has invited past secretaries of the Department of Health (DOH) and other health experts in a meeting today to seek their inputs on whether there is a need to extend the Luzon-wide ECQ.

Go said the President will consult with the previous DOH secretaries from the various administrations regarding the government’s COVID-19 response.

Go, who chairs the Senate Health Committee, said the next few days will be crucial for the nation as this will determine whether the government is prepared to extend the lockdown or modify it at least to get the economy running again.

IATF meeting

Nograles said the ECQ can always be implemented again if the number of COVID-19 cases in the country resurges.

He said that while the ECQ may be lifted or modified, the government can always bring it back if there is a resurgence of COVID-19 cases.

Nograles said while the government cannot just lift the ECQ as advised by the World Health Organization (WHO), it can consider doing the lifting in phases or target which sectors could start operating again.

“Piliin natin kung ano yung mga pwede magbukas at yung workforce na pwede nating payagan na magtrabaho, ano yung mass transport systems na papayagan natin (We should choose which businesses can open again, who are allowed to work, and what public transportation to bring back),” he said.