The Philippine government considers implementing selective quarantine if the Luzon-wide enhanced community quarantine comes out successful, chief implementor of the government’s COVID-19 response said on Sunday.
“Maari pong magkaroon ng selective quarantine kung magiging maayos po ang ating pagsunod sa ECQ (enhanced community quarantine),” Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. said during a virtual press briefing.
Galvez said the measure would only be possible if mass testing of suspected cases of COVID-19, increased recovery rate, decrease on death rate, decline on new cases and capacity of local health units were enhanced, GMA News reported.
“Let us not waste our efforts and gains that we achieved during the past three weeks under ECQ,” he added.
The chief implementor said the enhanced quarantine played a crucial role in slowing the spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
“Hindi tayo makakaahon sa enhanced community quarantine hanngga’t hindi tayo magkakaroon ng targeted testing,” Galvez stressed.
He said that the government targets to launch targeted testing which will be the game-changer. Large-scale testing is expected to roll out in Metro Manila this week which would target 6,000 to 10,000 individuals.
As of Sunday, there are 4,648 COVID-19 cases in the country with 297 deaths and 197 recoveries.
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