OCTA suggests gradual quarantine exit in NCR

The OCTA Research Group recommends a calibrated and slow exit from strict quarantine measures in the National Capital Region (NCR) to maintain the progress achieved.

They suggest either extending the modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) for another week or two, or shifting to a general community quarantine (GCQ) with enhanced monitoring of health standards.

OCTA fellow Prof. Ranjit Rye emphasized the importance of a gradual reopening strategy to sustain positive trends.

He noted that the NCR is practically already at GCQ status, given that most industries are already operational.

Rye stated that industries can reopen if they adhere to minimum public health standards, implement engineering controls to prevent transmission, and ensure their employees are vaccinated.

Despite a decrease in the reproduction number to 0.67, COVID-19 cases in the region still show high average daily attack and positivity rates.