Malacañang on Tuesday said the recently imposed month-long quarantine classifications would help anti-Covid-19 efforts of local government units (LGUs) by providing stability and continuity.
“Minabuti na po ng [Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases)] na gawing isang buwan para magkaroon ng stability iyong iba’t ibang mga lokal na pamahalaan,” Palace spokesman Harry Roque said.
President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday night placed Iligan City under modified enhanced community quarantine. Metro Manila, Bulacan, Batangas, Tacloban City and Bacolod were put under general community quarantine (GCQ).
The quarantine classifications, along with the modified GCQ imposed on the rest of the country, will be from Sept. 1 to 30.
Previously, quarantine classifications were updated every two weeks.
The two-week span matches the incubation period of the novel coronavirus.
“Napakahirap po kasi kung magbabago ang rules every two weeks,” Roque said.
“So ngayong every month na po, hindi lang siya magiging stable at mas malo-localize po kasi ngayon iyong mga ginagawa ng mga LGUs kasama na rin po diyan iyong mga localized at granular lockdowns. So parang mas mayroon pong continuity kung one month,” he added.
Roque said the president would continue to deliver his weekly public addresses.
As of Sept. 1, the country has recorded 224,254 Covid-19 cases. John Ezekiel J. Hirro