MANILA – A stricter community quarantine restrictions for the month of April is possible following the increase in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases these past few days.
Cabinet secretary Karlo Nograles said the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) will monitor the number of COVID-19 cases throughout March to determine April’s status.
“Mino-monitor natin ‘yung mga nangyayari ngayon na pagtaas,” Nograles said in an interview with DZBB on Sunday. “Iyan ang magiging basis natin para sa recommendations natin for April.”
Some of the hospitals in the National Capital Region have started to feel the wrath of increase in the number of COVID-19 cases over the past few weeks, with the Philippine General Hospital having what has been described as a “mini outbreak.”
Meanwhile, the trend of around 3,000 COVID-19 cases daily is “alarming” according to Department of Health (DOH) undersecretary and government’s treatment czar Leopoldo Vega.
“This is alarming,” Vega said in a separate interview with DZBB radio on Sunday. “We’re taking necessary precautionary measures para mapigilian ang trend na ito, lalo na sa hospitals.”
The uptick of cases, according to Vega, should signal for the strict implementation of minimum health protocols now that more businesses were allowed to reopen by the IATF-EID.
On Sunday, DOH recorded 3,276 new infections, bringing the total to 594,412. At least 545,853 already recovered while 12,516 died. 36,043 are still active cases./PN
