Manila Bulletin
ECQ imposed to slow down increasing number of new COVID-19 cases -- DOH
The Department of Health (DOH) announced the reimposition of Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) in Metro Manila and surrounding provinces to prevent active COVID-19 cases from reaching 430,000 by the end of April.
According to DOH Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire, projections from the FASSSTER modeling tool indicated a likely exponential increase in cases without stricter lockdown measures.
These projections warned of potentially 430,000 national cases and 350,000 cases in the National Capital Region (NCR) alone by April 30 if immediate, harder measures were not implemented.
Vergeire highlighted that the NCR, Bulacan, Cavite, Rizal, and Laguna are already categorized as high to critical risk due to their COVID-19 two-week growth rate and average daily attack rate.
The country's healthcare system is currently under immense strain, with utilization rates at 63% in Metro Manila and 58% in Calabarzon.
The primary goal of the stricter ECQ is to make the healthcare system's capacity more manageable.
The ECQ for the affected areas, forming the 'bubble', is set to be in effect from March 29 to April 4.
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The enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) in the NCR Plus bubble, comprising Metro Manila, Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna, and Rizal, has been extended until April 11, 2021.
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Health experts recommend extending the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) in NCR Plus until April 11 to give the healthcare system more time to prepare, as hospitals in Metro Manila and surrounding provinces are at critical levels for COVID-19 bed occupancy.
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A spokesperson for the Philippine General Hospital (PGH) stated that the one-week Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) in the NCR Plus is unlikely to achieve the government's target of reducing COVID-19 cases by 25%.
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OCTA Research recommended extending the ECQ in NCR Plus for another week due to rising COVID-19 cases.
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The effects of the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) in Greater Metro Manila Area may not be fully observable for another two weeks, according to the Department of Health (DOH).
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