Metro Manila mayors want the easing of the quarantine restrictions in the National Capital Region (NCR) to happen after the Christmas holidays.
Chief implementer of the government’s national policy on Covid-19 Carlito G. Galvez said this was the appeal of the Metro Manila Council to the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Disease (IATF) regarding the possible community classification for the National Capital Region (NCR) next month.
“There recommendation is just in case there will be an easing of [quarantine] restriction, it should be next year after the holidays,” Galvez said.
Currently NCR remains under general community quarantine (GCQ), the third strictest quarantine classification.
Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said President Rodrigo R. Duterte is expected to announce in his public address the new community quarantine classifications on Monday.
Local officials in NCR are hesitant to relax the restriction fearing it could lead to a surge of Covid-19 cases.
Galvez and the Department of Health (DOH) said the government is anticipating a possible spike in infection during the upcoming holidays.
Authorities are now trying to minimize if not prevent this expected surge by reminding the public to comply with minimum health standards during their Christmas celebrations as well as limiting non-essential movement during the said holiday.