OCTA recommends NCR Plus stay GCQ until July end

The OCTA Research group recommended that the National Capital Region (NCR) plus areas should remain under General Community Quarantine (GCQ) until the end of July to prevent another surge of cases amid the threat of coronavirus variants.

OCTA Research fellow Dr. Ranjit Rye stated that Metro Manila is not yet ready to transition to the less stringent Modified General Community Quarantine (MGCQ).

Rye emphasized the need to sustain the current quarantine status to allow for increased vaccination rates.

However, he suggested that business restrictions could be relaxed to permit higher operational capacities.

The government was advised to enhance monitoring and enforcement of minimum public health standards before considering a shift to a less stringent quarantine classification.

Dr. Rye also noted that many individuals are becoming complacent in observing public health protocols.

OCTA stressed the need to expand testing, tracing, and isolation, as well as improve bio-surveillance nationwide, noting that early detection of cases can help slow the spread of the Delta variant, which is a growing concern.