BY NOREEN JAZUL
The implementation of the modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) is showing “positive trend” in the number of daily COVID-19 cases in the National Capital Region (NCR), an expert from the University of the Philippines (UP) said Friday.
“So far, nakikita natin medyo positive ‘yung trend sa NCR, medyo bumababa siya. We will see next week kung bababa pa siya na mas mabilis na pace,” Dr. Guido David, a member of the UP-OCTA Research, told DZMM Teleradyo.
David said they have lowered their initial case projections from 220,000 by end of August to 190,000 due to the return of NCR to MECQ.
“We’ve actually seen some positive indicators,” David said.
David said the effectivity of stricter quarantine measures can also be seen in Cebu City which he said has already flattened the curve.
“Dati 300 cases sila per day, ngayon 100 cases na lang ‘yung average nila per day, so nag work talaga sa Cebu City,” David said.
When asked if the government is taking the right approach to COVID-19, David said: “I think naging tama ‘yung approach.”
David said that while it’s “too early to say” whether the Philippines is winning the COVID battle, he said the trend of cases in the country is already in the “right direction.”
“Kasi nung July, nakaka-frustrate, kasi lumobo talaga. Ngayon medyo nag stabilize. I think we’re trending in the right direction, medyo bumababa ‘yung mga cases,” he said.
“Ayoko pa masabi na nananalo tayo, medyo premature para sabihin ‘yon kasi (the) trend can reverse,” he added.
David also said once NCR reverts back to GCQ, the government must be “careful” in implementing protocols and choosing which business to re-open.