OCTA recommends extending ECQ in NCR Plus for two weeks

OCTA Research recommended extending the ECQ in NCR Plus for another week due to rising COVID-19 cases.

OCTA Research fellow Ranjit Rye emphasized that one week is insufficient and more time is needed to prevent further spread.

The research team projected the virus's reproduction number to decrease from 1.5 to 1.2 or lower with an additional week of ECQ.

Relaxing restrictions after Easter Sunday could lead to a surge in daily COVID-19 cases, reaching up to 12,000 to 13,000.

Rye warned that premature reopening would overwhelm hospitals and jeopardize both lives and livelihoods, undoing progress made during the NCR Plus bubble.

OCTA now recommends a full two weeks of ECQ, stating that one week will not be sufficient to reverse the surge and relieve hospital pressure.

OCTA Research fellow Ranjit Rye noted that if the reproduction number (R) does not drop dramatically in the next seven days, the government has to be prepared to consider an additional third week of ECQ.

Rye urged the government to establish an exit strategy from the ECQ that will sustain the anticipated drop in the R, followed by a modified ECQ before downgrading to general community quarantine (GCQ).