Doctors call for ‘demilitarized medical quarantine’ vs COVID-19

MANILA, Philippines — A group of doctors has called for reforms in the country’s response to COVID-19, saying there is a need for “demilitarized medical quarantine.”

In an interview with “The Chiefs” aired on One News/TV5 on Tuesday night, Second Opinion PH co-convenor Gene Nisperos noted that five months have passed since the government imposed community quarantine, but the country is still in the “worst situation.”

“Throughout this pandemic response, we were told that this is the way to go – ECQ, MECQ, GCQ. Nothing whatsoever in terms of real medical quarantine. That’s what we are missing,” Nisperos said, referring to enhanced, modified enhanced and general community quarantine.

The medical doctor observed that various levels of restrictions have been imposed, but the entire approach to the quarantine itself and the way the quarantine is placed in the entire COVID-19 response has not changed.

“What we are calling for is a demilitarized medical quarantine. The operative word is medical. It defines what quarantine is. Why we put ‘demilitarized’ (is) because we want it to be entirely different from the current crop of iteration of community quarantine that has been imposed on us,” he said.

He noted how Health Secretary Francisco Duque III has failed to communicate how the government intends to protect medical workers to encourage them to put their lives on the line, and the need to aggressively look for supplemental health personnel that can support medical workers.

Vigilance

Sen. Bong Go issued a strong appeal to Filipinos to remain vigilant, religiously follow quarantine measures and to always observe health protocols, such as properly wearing face masks, practicing social distancing, avoiding non-essential travels and observing proper hygiene by frequently washing hands.

Go, who also chairs the Senate committee on health and demography, issued the appeal on the first day that Metro Manila, Laguna, Cavite, Rizal and Bulacan were reverted to MECQ status beginning last Tuesday.

In line with the two-week MECQ, all residents are directed to stay at home unless they are conducting essential activities, such as buying food and medicine. All public transportation and non-essential establishments have to be closed.

Go appealed to the public to show support and empathy to all frontliners, saying “they are sacrificing their own lives to save others. In our own way of showing our compassion and through our cooperation, we can save their lives as well.”

“We are relying on frontliners now because they know better, so let’s support them by being responsible citizens and following rules and regulations,” he said. – Christina Mendez