Areas in the country that have recorded zero Covid-19 cases in the past month may be put under a “new normal” status when current quarantine classifications expire, Malacañang said Monday.
Palace spokesman Harry Roque said he was the one who brought up the suggestion to the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) on Emerging Infectious Diseases.
“We’re still data-driven and guided by science. What I can say though is it will not be the same kasi ako mismo nagmungkahi at nag-agree naman ang IATF na there will be areas na mayroong zero transmission in the past month na pupuwede nang ideklara as under the regime of new normal,” he said in a virtual presser.
Minimum health standards and physical distancing rules will remain in areas under “new normal.”
The IATF removed the “new normal” classification in June. Since then, the government has retained the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ), modified ECQ, general community quarantine (GCQ) and modified GCQ classifications.
Iligan City, Bacolod City and Lanao del Sur are under modified ECQ, the most stringent among active quarantine classifications.
Metro Manila, Bulacan, Batangas and Tacloban City are under GCQ, while the rest of the country is under modified GCQ.
The quarantine classifications are set to expire on Sept. 30.
As of Sept. 21, 290,190 Covid-19 cases have been recorded in the country. John Ezekiel J. Hirro