ECQ to GCQ, the ‘new normal’

It is now a fait accompli for all of us here living in Metro Manila to continue living under the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) for another 15 days, or until May 15. This is the equivalent of the 14-day incubation period for detecting the deadly 2019 coronavirus disease, or COVID-19. 

On a bright side, this ended the rumor mills of a total COVID-19 lockdown in the Philippines. But aren’t we effectively in total lockdown since all flights in and out of our country have been suspended when the ECQ took effect last March 15? The only exemptions are cargo and “sweeper” flights for stranded foreigners allowed to return to their respective countries and bringing back our own overseas Filipino workers (OFWs). 

And since the ECQ has been extended in MM, all other means of mass transportation also remain suspended. For how long can all our ECQ affected industries and businesses sustain the suspension of their operations? These are just among the economic situation being weighed against the lockdown to contain the pandemic contagion in our country. As of latest tally, our country now has more than 7,000 COVID-19 cases. 

As determined and recommended by the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging and Infectious Disease (IATF-EID), President Rodrigo Duterte approved last week the second round of extension of the Luzon-wide ECQ. The first extension is supposed to lapse by the end of this month or this Wednesday midnight.

Because COVID-19 infection cases have been steadily climbing despite the ECQ in Metro Manila, the IATF classified the national capital region (NCR) among the so-called “high-risk” areas. This was based on the daily monitoring being done by the Department of Health (DOH) of the COVID-19 cases all over the country. Incidentally, according to the DOH, there are 26 provinces that remain COVID-free.

Although the 16 MM cities and the lone municipality of Pateros differ in the number of COVID-19 cases, ECQ chief implementor retired Gen. Carlito Galvez Jr. pointed out the NCR has contiguous areas or connected to each other. So everybody of us here in Metro Manila would all remain under ECQ regardless of the number of COVID-19 cases in each and every city. None among the MM areas indicated a declining trend as of last reckoning of the IATF. 

What is worrisome though for all of us in the NCR is that we play host to many quarantine facilities to accommodate COVID-19 “suspects” and potential “spreaders.” The Department of Foreign Affairs reported  almost 20,000 OFWs have so far been brought back by the Philippine government after the global COVID-19 outbreak, all of whom are required to undergo a 14-day quarantine once they arrived here.

We have no choice but to embrace the prescribed way of living while there is no vaccine yet against COVID-19 infection. From washing of hands and use of alcohol and disinfectants to observing physical or “social” distancing; the wearing of face masks; body temperature checks; restricting senior citizens, pregnant women and other people considered as most vulnerable to COVID-19 infection to “stay-at-home;” and other do’s and don’ts under the “stringent” rules and regulations of the IATF. 

These are the “new normal” that all of us must comply with during this prolonged public health crisis.

But there is now a “new normal” other than that those imposed under ECQ areas. The IATF came up with a modified ECQ which it now calls as the general community quarantine (GCQ) in areas where the government can relax some existing quarantine rules. 

Areas placed under GCQ are those deemed as “low-risk” to “moderate-risk” on potential resurgence or second wave of COVID-19 infection, according to the assessment of the IATF. Under the GCQ, the general population may go out of their homes without any need for quarantine passes. But like ECQ, they are allowed to go out of their houses only to buy or do their basic needs. Public gatherings remain prohibited and classes at all levels still suspended.  

Those with ages below 21 years old and those 60 years old and above, as well as those with ages ranging from 21 years old but below 60 years old but who reside with “co-morbidities,” or people with existing medical/health condition that make them vulnerable to COVID-19 infection, shall remain as “homeliners,” presidential spokesman Harry Roque announced last week. 

Non-leisure stores in malls and shopping centers may also be partially opened while airports and seaports may operate for the unhampered movement of goods in GCQ areas. During the GCQ period, the precautionary measures would still be in place in these areas particularly as some industries return to work depending on the government assessments.     

The President also ordered the graduated back to work operations classified under the GCQ to re-start the local economies in these areas. By May 16, the IATF may relax ECQ areas to the GCQ category if they also attain the low risk grade. 

Henceforth, governors and mayors may no longer decide unilaterally to place on lockdowns their respective localities. Previously, they were given authority to declare their own ECQ to protect their respective constituents from the spread of COVID-19 infection. With several regions and provinces downgraded to GCQ, President Duterte required all local government units (LGUs) to implement anti-COVID measures with prior approval by the IATF.

The IATF has also approved a “minimum health standard” for all types of quarantine areas. These include provisions for additional COVID testing laboratories to raise detection of “suspects” and potential “spreaders” of the contagion; more quarantine facilities to isolate them; increase the procurement for protective personal equipment, especially needed by our “frontliners” led by medical/health care workers who are among the major casualties in this war against the deadly COVID-19 infection.  

Hopefully, the P50 million “reward” that President Duterte has raised could produce the vaccine against this “invisible” enemy that is feared to be also “invincible.” Until otherwise lifted on the next round of assessment by the IATF, we’ll have to adapt with these “new normal” ways of living.