On a late Sunday night briefing, President Duterte has placed NCR and nearby provinces of Bulacan, Rizal, Laguna and Cavite under MECQ ( Modified Enhanced Community Quarantine) for 15 days starting from August 04 – 18, 2020.
The healthcare system is so overwhelmed and the medical community needs a breather, stated on a joint letter read by Philippine Medical Association President Jose Santiago in a virtual press conference. They have no other choice but to call for a time out and appeal to put the Mega Manila under ECQ (Enhanced Community Quarantine).
The Philippines has reached the 100, 000 plus cases mark yesterday passing China where the virus originated. In a span of almost 1 month, the Philippines has recorded additional 60, 000 cases from only 37,500 by the end of June when the GCQ ( General Community Quarantine ) was implemented.
With the call for a more stricter stay at home policy, the President made the decision to put back the high-risk areas to MECQ following the recommendation of Department of Health ( DOH ) Secretary Francisco Duque III.
Netizens also support the sympathy of our front-line health worker’s plea for ECQ through different social media platforms. The sharp increase of infected COVID patients, hospitals being full and medical workers getting already exhausted and some of them were also sicken by the virus made the front-liners to suggest the revert to ECQ.
As of July 31, the DOH said at least 4,938 health care workers have tested positive for COVID-19.
