Malacanang downplays claims MEQC declaration as premature

MECQ declaration’s not premature; new COVID-19 cases reach 8,571

MANILA – Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque today said the government did not declare the Modified Enhanced Community Quarantine over Metro Manila and the four nearby provinces.

Speaking from the Philippine General Hospital where he remains confined due to Covid-19, Secretary Roque said the declaration came after the IATF noted the improved health care capacity which is the basis of either the escalation or de-escalation of quarantine declarations.

“We hope to see the results of the two-week enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) declaration in a week or two,” he further said.

In a related development, Vaccine Czar Secretary Carlito Galvez, Jr., today said Filipinos who received their first dose need not worry because the Department of Health has already included the second dose in their vaccine rollout.

This was his reply to concerns aired by certain sectors amid reports of a global vaccine shortage. He explained the Sinovac vaccines have already been rolled out to different parts of the country with the accompanying provision for the second dose.

“We allowed the inoculation of the AstraZeneca because COVAX assured us of their delivery before month’s end,” Secretary Galvez said.

Still at the same press briefing, Public Works Secretary Mark A. Villar said they are looking for open areas where they could build isolation facilities for COVID-19 patients.

He said they have already built an isolation facility near the Mall of Asia and for the modular isolation facilities, they are coordinating with local government units for them to build facilities near the hospitals so doctors and other medical professionals could attend to the patients.

He added they have the resources to build and refurbish facilities for isolation requirements.

Incidentally, the Department of Health (DOH) today said there were 8,571 new COVID-19 cases and 400 recoveries while 137 died.

The total number of COVID-19 cases now stands at 884,783 with 165,534 active cases. The same report said total recoveries reached 703,963 while deaths reached a total of 15,286.

The government reported 27,900 persons have been tested with 18.3% turned out to be positive. However, 98.7% of those tested have mild and asymptomatic cases. (Melo M. Acuña)

Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque, Vaccine Czar Carlito Galvez, Jr. and DPWH Secretary Mark Aguilar Villar. (Screen grab from RTVM/PCOO/Melo M. Acuna)