Department of Health (DOH) Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said that the government is planning to end the quarantine protocols in the country by the third quarter of 2021.
Vergeire made the statement as the health department’s response to the comment of National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) Director General Karl Chua that the country is expected to remain under quarantine protocols for the whole year of 2021.
She also noted that the secret to faster transition to the new normal is intensified local government units’ preventive measures such as surveillance, contact tracing, quarantine facilities, and coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) testing efforts so they can change to a more relaxed modified general community quarantine (MGCQ) by the second quarter of 2021.
“Nothing is certain at this point, pinag-aaralan nating mabuti lahat ng posibleng mangyari. Ang milestone na tinitignan ng gobyerno, dapat by second quarter of next year, lahat ng LGUs (local government units), MGCQ na tayo,” Vergeire said.
“Kapag nabuo na natin iyong gatekeeping components saka iyong health system capacity is at low risk, maybe by second quarter next year we can shift to MGCQ and hopefully, as months progress after the second quarter, all of us can shift to new normal,” she added.
The most relaxed quarantine protocol in the country is the MGCQ. Areas under this protocol are allowed 15 to 65 years old to go out of their homes, including 50% operation of movie screenings, concerts, sporting events and other entertainment activities, religious services, and work conferences.
However, Vergeire advised the public not to let their guard down just because a Covid-19 vaccine will be available by 2021.
“We cannot be complacent. Dapat ipagpatuloy pa rin ang pagpapatupad ng minimum health standards,” Vergeire said. RJ Espartinez