Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 19) — A large-scale lockdown will no longer be implemented in case a COVID-19 second wave hits the country.
According to Carlito Galvez Jr., chief implementer of the National Task Force on COVID-19, a new strategy was crafted in response to a possible COVID-19 second wave, focusing on “localized quarantine measures.”
“Mayroon na po tayong gagawin na mas localized na ang quarantine measures. Hindi na ito malawakan na lugar, kung hindi mayroon pong naka focus na quarantine measures,” Health Secretary Francisco Duque said.
[Translation: We are going to implement a more localized quarantine measure. This will no longer be a large-scale one, but instead, it will be more focused.]
During the Senate committee of the whole hearing on COVID-19 response Tuesday, Galvez discussed the equilibrium the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) is trying to achieve between keeping the public safe and protecting economic centers.
“Alam po natin sa lockdown, the economy has suffered. Gumawa kami ng bagong stratehiya. Ang tawag ang sonic concept,” he said.
[Translation: We know that during the lockdown, the economy has suffered. We created a new strategy called sonic concept.]
Local governments will have the authority to contain areas with cases of COVID-19.
“Mas naka focus na ang quarantine measure natin. Kung may mag-positive na dalawa sa isang barangay, iyon na lang ang ila-lockdown,” Duque explained.
[Translation: Our quarantine measure is more focused. If two people tested positive in a barangay, it will be under a lockdown.]
Galvez said that areas with cases of COVID-19 will be classified as critical areas, containment area, buffer zone, and outside buffer zone, which are the economic areas.
The Philippines now has 12,942 cases of COVID-19 nationwide. The total number of recoveries is now at 2,843, while the death toll has climbed to 837.
