By Nimfa Estrellado May 17, 2020 Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque has explained the basis...
May 17, 2020
Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque
Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque has explained the basis of the Inter-Agency Task Force for Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) in linking the province of Laguna and other high-risk areas of the country to 'modified enhanced community quarantine' from May 16 to May 31.
Roque said some of the main factors behind the decision of the IATF were the COVID-19 case doubling rate, in a press briefing held on Thursday, May 14.
He said the IATF often depended on the use of critical care by local governments, or the ability of the health sector to provide the sick with medical services.
“Unang-una, ang kinukunsidera dyan ay 'yung case doubling rate yung pagkalat ng sakit at yung panagalawa ay 'yung kahandaan na magbigay ng critical care noong lugar,” Roque said.
The case doubling time is the rate at which COVID-19 cases are increasingly growing according to the Department of Health.
In low-risk areas, for example, it is more than 30 days before a new case is filed; for moderate-risk areas, seven to 30 days; and in high-risk areas, doubling time is six days or less. The DOH measure also involves each local government's epidemic response.
After the Rizal province, Laguna is only second to the highest number of confirmed COVID-19 cases.
To date, it has reported 353 confirmed cases in Laguna, 357 in Rizal, 253 in Cavite, 134 in Batangas, and 77 in Quezon.
In CALABARZON, which now stands at 156 based on data from the Department of Health Center for Health Development Region 4A, Laguna tops the highest reported recovery rate compared to other provinces.
According to the provincial government, the molecular research laboratory will be opened at the San Pablo City District Hospital, and the gold standard molecular laboratory at the University of the Philippines Los Baños will act as the COVID-19 Test Center in Laguna.
Laguna and cities in the National Capital Region and Cebu City are among the high-risk areas to be included in the MECQ from May 16 to May 31, based on IATF Resolution No. 35.
While the other four provinces belong to the moderate-risk areas in the region, they are subject to the 'general quarantine community.'
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