Palace: Too early to decide on Metro Manila's quarantine status post-May 15

Malacañang stated that it is too early to determine if Metro Manila will transition to general community quarantine (GCQ) after May 15.

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque mentioned that Local Government Units (LGUs) have requested the national government to extend the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) in their areas.

Paranaque City Mayor Edwin Olivarez, also chairman of the Metro Manila Council, supports the recommendation to extend the ECQ in the metropolis.

Olivarez indicated that he would back the extension if health authorities assess the COVID-19 trend as still dangerous.

The Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases evaluates hospital critical care infrastructure and the case doubling time when making decisions.

Both scientific data and economic factors will be considered in the decision-making process.