While optimistic for MECQ: City awaits IATF on quarantine status

CEBU, Philippines —  Cebu City is hopeful it can transition to modified general community quarantine (MECQ) by June 1, 2020 as only five days are left before the order to extend its enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) status ends on May 31.

City legal officer Rey Gealon said the city will wait for the recommendation of the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID).

"Karon, maghuwat gyud ta kung unsay ilang assessment sa atong sitwasyon," Gealon said yesterday.

(Now, we will have to wait for their assessment on our situation.)

But with many COVID-19 positive patients recovering in the city, a total of 230 as of yesterday, May 26, Gealon is optimistic that IATF will recommend a transition to MECQ.

Cebu City has 1,992 patients of which 23 have died. Most of the patients are also asymptomatic.

"Dako ang purohan nga mag-modified ECQ ta and then towards GCQ (general community quarantine). Hinay-hinayon lang gyud nato… Mao man gyud ni ang atong nahisgutan sa consultation sa atong kapolisan, sa City Health Department, ug sa Department of Health," he said.

(There is a big chance that we will transition to modified ECQ and then eventually to GCQ. Let’s take it slowly. This is what we discussed during consultation with the police, City Health Department, and Department of Health.)

For his part, Mayor Edgardo Labella said meetings with city and health officials are ongoing to prepare for a possible transition to MECQ.

“I’ve been meeting with our colleagues in the city government and, of course, we really have to consult our health officials. Rest assured our decision will be based on data, scientific and strategic collaboration with our health officials.”

Labella said the depending on the number of cases in an area, lockdowns can still be enforced during MECQ but in smaller scales.

“There could be lockdowns but it will not be on an entire barangay basis. If ever we downgrade into modified ECQ, there could be some lockdowns… sitios or even households… we base our decision, aside from consultation, on our constant monitoring and, of course, we have realized that the number is going down and there are more recoveries, and that’s a very good sign,” Labella said.

Gealon said the city is looking forward to transition to GCQ so that businesses can open back slowly and people can return to work.

During this time, a "new normal" will be observed wherein workplaces will be allowed to bring back 50 percent of its workforce and transportation can also accommodate 50 percent of passengers.

It was on May 15 when Labella issued an executive order placing the city, which is classified as high-risk for COVID-19 infections, under MECQ after President Rodrigo Duterte announced that he had approved the recommendation to extend the ECQ in Metro Manila, Laguna, and Cebu City until May 31 with modifications in protocols.

But the night after the MECQ declaration, the IATF-EID issued a resolution granting the city's petition for reconsideration to stay under a state of ECQ.

On May 16, it was announced that Cebu City, along with Mandaue City, will remain under ECQ until May 31, 2020 per Resolution No. 37 passed by IATF-EID.  JMO (FREEMAN)