For Metro Manila, a shift to general community quarantine (GCQ) might means a new wave of outbreak as worst-case scenario, according to Health Secretary Francisco Duque III.
“The worst-case scenario here would be that we will have another case of outbreaks and there would be a second wave — actually a third wave,” Duque said during the hearing of the Senate Committee of the Whole.
This is possible if mass testing is not done before the easing of restrictions.
Duque raised this when asked by Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian on what would be the “worst-case scenario” if Metro Manila would shift to relaxed quarantine measures. Currently, Metro Manila is under modified enhanced community quarantine, which would last until the May 31.
Duque suggested that provinces, cities, and towns be monitored through what he called a “risk severity rating.” For provinces, 25 COVID-19 cases would mean it is at a severe risk; 15 cases for highly-urbanized cities; and 10 cases for towns or chartered cities.
Under that rating system, provinces would have a severe risk rating at 25 COVID-19 cases highly-urbanized cities is 15 cases, and chartered cities or towns at 10 cases.
