Party-list lawmaker pushed for “Selective Quarantine Lifting”
Party-list lawmaker pushed for “Selective Quarantine Lifting”
Ako Bicol Party-list Representative Elizaldy Co is pushing
for selective quarantine lifting to regenerate economic activities in provinces
or municipalities with zero to one case of the coronavirus disease
(COVID-19) and help ease
government’s burden during these trying times.
Rep.
Co said he is proposing the lifting of
quarantine in case to case basis for provinces with zero to one case of COVID-19
in the last 15 days or – in municipalities with zero cases.
“The
objective of quarantine lifting is to allow people, albeit in limited numbers
and in select localities, to return to their jobs. We’re fighting a protracted
war and until no vaccine is invented, government’s limited resources can’t
support and feed all those who were displaced. We need to save government funds
for the longer battle,” he added.
Citing
World Health Organization (WHO) estimates, Co said that “it would take at least two years before a vaccine against COVID-19
will be discovered, but “the economy can’t wait and our resources can’t
last that long.”
“With sufficient data,
the government can plan and identify which areas can reopen or remain in full lockdown.
If we implement selective quarantine, initial estimates indicate that we can
save as much as P30-billion,” Co stressed.
Rep.
Co pointed out that each qualified province or municipality must adhere to the
following strict terms and conditions:
a) Residents, who are 60 years old and older,
are required to stay home since they are prone to acquiring the disease. Until
the threat of COVID-19 is over or a new vaccine is out, they must have their
own room or space for quarantine;
b) Provinces or municipalities with whose
number of cases is less than 75% of the estimated outbreak threshold (as
determined by UP COVID 19 Response Team) may not implement ECQ at all. But
their boundaries/borders shall remain close/on full lockdown. This is to
protect the safe territory and its people from possible carriers of the disease
from other provinces/municipalities;
c) Workers with face masks can report back to work while wearing observing a three-meter physical distance from each other. Regular hand washing is required;
d) People can move around but must observe social distancing as the new norm; and
e) Once a COVID-19 case is detected and
confirmed, the entire province or municipality will automatically be placed on
30-day lockdown.
However, these measures are subject for further study and
evaluation.