MANILA – Any sharp increase in coronavirus disease 2019 cases in areas where quarantine restrictions have been eased could prompt the government to reimpose a total lockdown.
Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque made this warning yesterday, saying the public should not be complacent despite the relaxing of community quarantine in most parts of the country.
“Nalulungkot kami sa nangyari pero iniintindi namin, first time kasi at ang mga tao, parang nakawala sa kural,” Roque said in a virtual press conference. “If lalabas tayo ng ganyan karami at dumami ang magkakasakit, babalik tayo sa ECQ.”
“Kung puwede naman ay manatili na lamang sa bahay,” he added. “Kapag tayo ay nagmatigas at kumalat ang sakit, kung umikli ang doubling time sa isa o dalawang linggo, baka maubos na ang mga kama sa hospital at sa kalsada na kayo ilagay.”
Photos showing the number of people who flocked to malls and other establishments in Metro Manila over the weekend went viral online where social distancing and crowd control were not observed.
“Inaasahan natin na hinay hinay at dahan dahan lang ang mga tao kaso nga nagdagsaan sila sa labas noong Sabado,” Roque said. “Nandiyan pa rin ang virus habang walang bakuna, hindi pa rin tayo ligtas sa COVID-19.”
“Dun sa mga malls na hindi magpapatupad ng social distancing measures, ipapasara uli kayo,” he added. “Marami talagang mahahawa sa nangyari noong Sabado, pero sana huwag na maulit.”
Department of Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire, for her part, also said that she will not hesitate to recommend another lockdown if there will be second wave in COVID-19 cases.
“This is transitioning para mapababa at mapababa ang community quarantine. Pero kung makikita po natin ito tapos biglang mag-surge ang cases natin, malaki po ang posibilidad na we need to do another total lockdown,” Vergeire told CNN Philippines.
Vergeire also reminded people the whole country is still under quarantine regardless of the classification an area falls into.
“Ang sinasabi at kailangan natin laging tandaan ay naka-community quarantine pa tayong lahat. Kahit na sabihin natin na modified ito, na general ito, lahat po ng areas dito sa ating bansa still on community quarantine,” Vergeire said./PN
