Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 11) -- The COVID-19 situation in nearby regions will be taken into account before the next quarantine classification of Metro Manila is decided, Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said Friday.
Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque, Jr. earlier said there is a possibility the NCR Plus - which includes the National Capital Region, Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna, and Rizal - may ease into a regular general community quarantine due to improving COVID-19 numbers. NCR Plus is under GCQ "with restrictions" until June 15.
"Kailangan natin ikonsidera na bagamat halimbawa ang NCR is a separate region, kailangan nating makita rin kung ano ang nangyayari sa mga karatig na rehiyon," Vergeire said in an online media briefing.
[Translation: We need to consider, for example, NCR is a separate region, we need to see what is happening in regions close by.]
"Ito rin ay makakaapekto sa atin kung saka-sakali," she added.
[Translation: Their situation will affect us if ever.]
Vergeire said the current restrictions in NCR Plus are working.
"Sa tingin po namin talagang naging epektibo because nakita ho natin talaga iyong patuloy na pagbaba ng kaso dito po sa NCR Plus bubble," she said in a separate briefing on Saturday.
[Translation: We think it has been effective because we saw the continued downtrend in cases in the NCR Plus bubble.]
For his part, Dr. Tony Leachon, a former adviser for the Inter-Agency Task Force, said there is a need to "protect NCR from regions outside of its borders."
"Otherwise, we will see [a] resurgence of cases," he tweeted.
Leachon's advice was based on the latest report of independent research group OCTA, which noted that while new cases in NCR are declining, infections in other areas are rising.
The group tagged Bacolod, Cagayan de Oro, Iloilo City, Dumaguete, Butuan, Tuguegarao, Cotabato City, and Tacloban as "areas of concern."
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