Still no need to impose lockdown – DOH

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Health (DOH) gave assurance yesterday that there is still no need to impose a lockdown in any area despite the rising cases of COVID-19 in the country.

However, DOH Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said they will sit down with the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) next week to discuss the risk classification of various areas.

“Right now, it is still not necessary to impose a lockdown but we continue to monitor and before the month ends, we will be meeting with the IATF,” she noted in a press briefing.

According to Vergeire, they will discuss with the IATF the current COVID-19 situation in the country and the quarantine classification of areas.

She said quarantine status will be based on health system capacity and the number of new cases being documented.

If, for instance, the DOH observes that the level of community quarantine in a place should be levelled up, this will be done to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

But the official underscored that apart from the general risk classification, the local government units have the authority to decide on quarantine status in their areas.

“They can impose stricter restrictions to contain the spread of the virus in their areas,” she said.

Duque support

Vergeire reiterated that the DOH continues to support embattled Health Secretary Francisco Duque III, who is now being blamed for the country’s failure to immediately secure the vaccine made by Pfizer-BioNTech.

“We have always verbalized our support for our secretary. We understand that people have been longing for these vaccines, but please try to remember that the government is trying to do its best so we could have the vaccines as early as next year,” she said.

Vergeire added that, at the same time, they also need to “abide by the processes of government to make sure that it will be transparent and according to guidelines.”