Following the shift of “NCR-plus bubble” to modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ), the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) should focus on granulated household lockdowns, a lawmaker said.
In a statement, Marikina Rep. Stella Quimbo explained that under a household lockdown approach, there was no need to close down the economy.
“A household lockdown allows the virus busters to be proactive. Ito ang isang paraan para maunahan natin si Covid,” she said.
“Under this proposal, the wheels of the economy can go on turning and this ensures that our workers can keep their jobs, their livelihoods are preserved while at the same time ensuring their safety and help,” she added.
The proposal will require affected households to adhere to a strict stay-at-home policy. They should be provided the necessary financial assistance or “ayuda” and healthcare, whether they are at home or in the hospitals.
“Alam na natin sa ngayon na walang pinipili ang Covid — mahirap man o mayaman, may trabaho o wala, matanda o bata. Umaasa ako na maiintindihan ng ating kababayan na kailangan ng mas concentrated na pag-aaruga sa mga tinamaan ng Covid,” she said.
On Sunday, President Rodrigo Duterte placed the “NCR-Plus Bubble” (Metro Manila, Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna, and Rizal) and the City of Santiago in Isabela, Quirino and Abra under the less restrictive MECQ from April 12 to April 30,
As of writing there are 864,868 confirmed Covid-19 cases in the country, of which 146,519 are active cases. Jade Veronique V. Yap