10K cops deployed in Metro for new curfew hours
THE OCTA Research Team yesterday said there is a possibility that daily new COVID-19 cases could hit 8,000 infections by the end of the month, and as high as 18,000 to 20,000 new cases per day by mid-April, if the current upward trend continues.
“Our projections had come true. In fact, the virus spread is faster than our original projection, so we readjusted it,” OCTA Research fellow Guido David, adding: “Currently, our reproduction rate is already at 1.95. Our previous projection used the r naught of 1.6 only.”
Guido was quick to add that, “we’re not trying to scare people. We’re just telling them what science says. There’s no fear-mongering in science.”
Dr. Ted Herbosa, a consultant of the National Task Force against the coronavirus disease (NTF COVID-19), said that if cases continue to increase and hospitals and temporary treatment facilities become fully occupied, the country could shift back to the strict modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ), Herbosa, in an interview with radio DzBB, said there is an “upsurge” and “not just spike” in COVID-19 cases, especially in several areas in Metro Manila such as Pasay City, Malabon, Navotas and Manila.
“Usually, we will go back to MECQ if our hospitals and temporary facilities are full,” he said as he recalled the country’s experience during the height of the pandemic between July and August last year.
Herbosa said while many hospitals are already equipped and doctors already well-trained on handling COVID-19 cases, plus the fact that there are now numerous isolation centers available, these could be overwhelmed if cases continue its upward trajectory.
He said one factor in the increased number of infections is the fact that many COVID patients now are either mild or asymptomatic cases, and are unaware that they are already transmitting the virus to the members of their household and to other people.
There is also the presence of new variants, which have made the virus more infectious and easier to transmit, and the people’s complacency.
“The number of cases has been increasing fast that is why we need to remind everyone to follow the protocols because if they do not… the wearing of mask and face shield, and staying at home… we might go on a stricter lockdown again,” he said.
The national government has refrained from imposing stricter community quarantines in its desire to prop the economy following its crash when lockdowns were imposed all over the country. Local government units instead have been authorized to impose granular or localized lockdowns whenever necessary to control the spread of the virus in their jurisdictions.
SECOND WAVE?
The University of the Philippines (UP) Pandemic Response Team yesterday expressed belief that the country is already seeing a second wave of the pandemic, contrary to what the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Department of Health (DOH) said last week.
In a radio interview, UP Pandemic Response Team member Jomar Rabajante said they firmly believe that the ongoing increase in COVID-19 cases is already the much feared second surge in the Philippines.
“This could be considered as a second wave because, in terms of peak, we are already climbing up,” said Rabajante, adding: “I just hope that this second wave won’t be as high or higher as our first peak. In other countries, the second wave has been higher than their firsts.”
Rabajante, however, admitted that their projections show that cases “can go down to 2,009 daily new cases, but it may also go as high as 7,000 to 7,500 new cases in a day.”
WHO Representative to the Philippines Dr. Rabindra Abeyasinghe last week said disagreed with observations that the country is already experiencing a second wave. “I wouldn’t classify this as a second wave because if you’re talking of a second wave, we should have seen a complete flattening of the curve,” he said.
NTF Chief Implementer and vaccine czar Carlio Galvez Jr. said the government is doing its best to ensure that the country handles all possible spikes in COVID-19 cases through improved testing, contact tracing, treatment and isolation capacity.
He again urged the public continue to follow the minimum health protocols even while the vaccination program against COVID-19 has started.
“We must also keep in mind that the vaccine program will not put an immediate end to the health crisis. We must learn to live with the virus until it is totally eradicated. Risk avoidance must therefore be a part of our line of defense,” he said.
“In order for us to fully reopen the economy, we must not forget the most important lesson we have learned over the past year: we cannot be complacent. Therefore, we must still continue to strictly adhere to minimum health standards and community quarantine protocols,” he added.
CURFEW
Meanwhile, PNP officer-in-charge Lt. Gen. Guillermo Eleazar yesterday nearly 10,000 police will be deployed in Metro Manila to implement uniform curfew hours, starting today up to March 31, amid the rising number of COVID-19 cases,
Eleazar, the concurrent chief of the PNP Administrative Support to COVID Operations Task Force, said the 9,634 policemen are from the Quezon City, Manila, Eastern, Southern and Northern police districts and will be deployed to local government units in enforcing the 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. curfew.
Eleazar said 373 checkpoints will also be put up in strategic areas in the metropolis, while beat and mobile car patrols will be conducted at the barangay level.
“The mission is plain and simple: All police forces will strictly implement the uniform curfew hours from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. and will ensure that people in Metro Manila observe the minimum health safety standard protocol,” said Eleazar.
Eleazar said the strong police visibility was similar to the “tried and tested formula” implemented in Metro Manila in April and in Cebu in June last year “wherein the deployment of more uniformed personnel in the streets and in the communities compelled the people to behave and eventually resulted in the reduction of COVID-19 cases.”
Eleazar said the policemen will undergo a pre-deployment briefing to reiterate policies from the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging and Infectious Diseases and the rules and regulations on the uniform curfew.
Eleazar reminded the policemen to avoid unnecessary confrontation with the public by observing maximum tolerance and respecting people’s rights.
“The keyword here is respect. If we know how to respect one another, I assure you of smooth curfew implementation. Let us always bear in mind that your PNP is not the enemy here, our common enemy is the coronavirus and it takes our cooperation to contain the spread of the virus,” said Eleazar.
He reiterated the curfew has exemptions, among them medical practitioners, nurses, ambulance drivers and other workers of medical facilities while on their way to and from work.
The others are attendants of other persons dealing with an emergency medical situation, persons who are obtaining emergency medical assistance for themselves or for other persons, drivers of delivery trucks while on their way to deliver essential goods/products, owners, vendors and other persons involved in the transport and delivery of essential goods; private employees such as call center agents while on their way to and from work, construction workers while on their way to and from work, media practitioners while performing their job, persons who are travelling to or from airport prior to or after a flight, drivers of private transportation used as shuttle services while on their way to and from work, members of law enforcement agencies, including AFP, Philippine Coast Guard, Bureau of Fire Protection and other emergency responders; security guards, and employees of fast foods that are open for take-out transactions.
Meanwhile, Quezon City mayor Joy Belmonte imposed a liquor ban starting today up to March 31, coinciding with the dates of the uniform curfew, which she called public safety hours.
“All retail sales of alcoholic beverages are hereby suspended for the duration of these guidelines,” said Belmonte in a memorandum.
She said sari-sari stores, markets, talipapas, and temporary vending sites should be closed by 10 p.m., while the the operation of swimming polls (except those authorized by the Games and Amusement Board and other sport government body), gyms, spas and internet cafes were suspended during the same period.
She said the conduct of physical graduation and oath-taking ceremonies involving 10 persons or more are suspended. She encouraged virtual graduation and oath-taking.
Belmonte said call centers, business process outsourcing and other similar businesses that by nature operate 24 hours may continue to operate during the curfew hours. Restaurants, restobars and similar establishments must close their dine-in operations not later than 10 p.m.
In Parańaque City, Mayor Edwin Olivarez signed Executive Order NO. 2021-018 Series of 2021 prohibiting the selling and purchasing of alcoholic drinks for the next two weeks.
Covered by the order are restaurants, bars, beerhouses, KTVs, groceries and supermarkets, convenience stores, sari-sari stores, and all other establishments issued with liquor permits.
On the other hand, the Metro Rail Transit 3 announced its operating hours will remain the same in spite of the implementation of the new curfew hours.
MRT-3 director for operations Michael Capati said the first trip of the train from North Avenue station will start at 4:37 in the morning and 5:17 a.m. from the Taft Avenue station. The last trip of the train from North Avenue station will be at 9:30 p.m. and 10:10 p.m. from Taft Avenue station.
The PNP office from San Pedro, Laguna has reported that billiard champ Efren “Bata” Reyes was accosted by the police on Thursday for violation of COVID-19 protocol, specifically the observance of physical distancing.
Laguna police spokeswoman Lt. Col. Chitadel Gaoiran said Reyes and several others were brought by the police to the barangay hall where they were reminded about the need to observe COVID-19 protocols.
Gaoiran said Reyes and the other violators were accosted between 6 to 6:30 p.m. last Thursday at a billiard hall in barangay San Vicente.
Gaoiran said Reyes and the other violators were later brought to the barangay hall.
Asked if Reyes and the others were fined, Gaoran said: “They were not, they were just reminded. — With Jocelyn Montemayor, Victor Reyes and Noel Talacay
