Rep Co proposes conditional quarantine lifting to reboot economy

Ako BICOL party-list Rep. Elizaldy Co proposed a conditional quarantine lifting to reboot economic activities in areas with minimal or no COVID-19 cases.

The proposal aims to allow people to return to work in limited numbers and select localities, acknowledging the government's limited resources for displaced individuals.

Co noted that a COVID-19 vaccine may take at least two years to develop, while the economy and government resources cannot wait that long.

Implementing selective quarantine could save the government as much as P30 billion, allowing for better resource allocation for the ongoing fight against the virus.

Under the proposal, residents aged 60 and older would still be required to stay home, and borders of the selected areas would remain closed to prevent the entry of potential carriers.

Workers would be allowed to return to work while observing physical distancing, and movement of people would be permitted with social distancing as the norm.

If a COVID-19 case is detected and confirmed in an area where quarantine is conditionally lifted, the entire province or municipality would be placed on a 30-day lockdown.