Some areas in the country may finally lose their community quarantine classifications next month.
In an online briefing on Monday, Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) is considering placing certain areas under the “new normal” classification.
“I myself, recommended, which was agreed upon by the IATF, to declare areas, where there are zero transmission in the past month under new normal,” Roque said.
Areas under new normal have minimal restrictions compared to areas under community quarantine.
Currently, all areas in the country are still classified under modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ); general community quarantine (GCQ); and modified GCQ (MGCQ).
However, Roque noted it is unlikely for Metro Manila’s GCQ classification to downgraded to MGCQ by next month because of its case doubling rate, which is at 13 to 14 days.
He earlier said an area should have case doubling rate of over 20 days before it could place under MGCQ.
Roque said the IATF will decide on the new community quarantine classifications nationwide before Oct. 1, 2020 based on data and scientific evidence.
The Palace official made the statement in response to the appeal of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) for a more relaxed community quarantine classification in NCR so more businesses will be able to operate in the region.
Image credits: AP/Aaron Favila