DOH: Lockdown sa NCR, ‘di pang-forever

MANILA, Philippines — Hindi umano maaaring i-lockdown ang National Capital Region ng ‘forever.

Ito ang sinabi ni Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire dahil hindi lamang ang community quarantine ang susi sa paglaban sa coronavirus disease 2019 o COVID-19.

“Even experts are saying we cannot remain in lockdown forever. Our economic managers also are advising based on the studies we have done that there are a lot of people who are going to go hungry already if we continue doing these lockdowns and ECQs (enhanced community quarantine),” aniya sa isang panayam.

“Certain diseases aside from COVID-19 will become evident in the next few months if we continue to have this ECQ. That’s why government has to balance between health and the economy because economy also has health impacts,” lahad pa nito.

Ilan aniya sa maaaring gawin ay ang granular o localized lockdowns at mas mahigpit na pagpapatupad ng minimum health standard.

“We were not aiming to finish, we were just pri­ming the system and to show the local government that this can work. This was the objective. We did not see that as a goal we will finish in 2 weeks,” giit pa ni Vergeire.