Palace spokesman Harry Roque on Friday warned the public that quarantine passes would be required in Metro Manila anew if it reverted to the stricter modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ).
“Talagang mababalik po iyong quarantine pass at magkakaroon po tayo ng pagbawas na naman sa transportasyon – in fact, sa MECQ wala ngang transportasyon e ‘no, para lahat ng tao ay manatili sa bahay,” he said in an Unang Hirit interview.
Metro Manila has been under general community quarantine (GCQ) since July 1.
Since the imposition of GCQ in the capital region, many businesses and industries have reopened amid rising Covid-19 cases.
Roque said that despite the increasing number of new Covid-19 cases, he still hoped for the retention of GCQ.
“Pero kung talagang kinakailangan [ang MECQ] at datos ang nagsabi, iyan naman po ay dedesisyunan,” he added.
Roque said the Covid-19 case doubling rate in Metro Manila stood at seven to eight days, which allowed the capital region to stay under GCQ.
Metro Manila’s critical care capacity has improved from being in the “danger zone” to “moderate,” he said.
“So ang numero per se, hindi po iyan ang magde-determine, it’s the case doubling rate at saka iyong critical care capacity,” Roque said. John Ezekiel J. Hirro