In his second weekly report on the status of the country since the passage of the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act, President Duterte did not confirm an extension of the month-long enhanced community quarantine, which is set to end on Sunday, April 12. However, he mentioned that the government is “inclined to extend” the lockdown until April 30.
“We are inclined to extend the lockdown until April 30. Tingnan natin after that (Let's see),” said Duterte.
According to the president, it is impossible at the moment to know whether the situation in the Philippines is improving, despite the lockdown that has been in effect since March 15.
On April 6, the Department of health announced 414 new confirmed COVID-19 cases —the second highest new confirmed cases reported in a single day in the country. It brings the total to 3,660 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the Philippines, up from 187 cases since the start of the lockdown.
Factors the IATF Will Consider in Extending or Lifting the Lockdwon
According to the Inter-Agency Task Force on the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF), there are five factors to consider on lifting or extending the Luzon-wide lockdown.
- Trends in the COVID-19 epidemiological curve
- Capacity of the health care system
- Social factors
- Economic factors
- Security factors
Based on these factors, the IATF will look at the speed or rate of new infections, the number of quarantine and isolation facilities in the country, the availability of medical supplies and PPEs for frontliners, testing capabilities, and the impact of the lockdown on the economy, among others.
