By RJ Espartinez

Department of Health (DOH) Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire debunked allegations circulating in social media that the National Capital Region, Laguna, and Cebu will return to an Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) status, as President Rodrigo Duterte is about to make a decision on June 15 about the community quarantine status in the country.

“Wala po ho tayong nailalabas na IATF (Inter-Agency Task Force) recommendation ukol sa ating June 15 na decision. So lahat po ng lumalabas sa ngayon wala pa ho yang basehan, hintayin na lang ho nating makapagbigay impormasyon sa atin ang Office of the President pagkatapos magbigay ng IATF recommendation sa Lunes, June 15,” Vergeire clarified. 

Vergeire also mentioned that the IATF will inform Duterte on whether the COVID-19 curve in the country has already flattened.

“Ito po ay pinag-aaralang mabuti. On June 15, magbibigay ng final recommendation ang ating Interagency Task Force to our president. Dito po makakapaglahad tayo ng ating indicators, like case doubling time and the critical care utilization rate,” she stated.

“Dito po natin makikita at mapapagbasehan para masabi natin kung ang ating curve ay tumataas, bumababa o nagpa-flatten,” Vergeire added.

Meanwhile, Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque admitted that COVID-19 cases in Metro Manila and Cebu City are not decreasing amidst the relaxed community quarantine measures. 

Roque stated that Metro Manila and other locations under general community quarantine (GCQ) may shift to modified general community quarantine (MGCQ), return to modified enhanced community quarantine, or remain under GCQ.