Metro Manila mayors have agreed to recommend the stay of the General Community Quarantine (GCQ) status in the National Capital Region next month.
“Irerekomenda po natin sa ating IATF (Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases) na manatili po tayo sa GCQ sa darating na February,” Metro Manila Council (MMC) Chairman and Parañaque City Mayor Edwin Olivarez told DZMM Teleradyo in an interview Thursday.
Olivarez said the GCQ extension in Metro Manila is a “precaution” against the presence of the United Kingdom COVID-19 variant in the country.
“Kung magluluwag po tayo, napakahirap po na magkaroon ng spike lalong lalo na parating na po ang ating vaccine,” Olivarez said.
The MMC chairman said granular lockdowns will be imposed in areas where there is a clustering of cases. Olivarez also said that the MMC decided to keep the age restriction of those allowed outside their homes at 15 to 65 following President Duterte’s order.
Vaccine czar Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. agreed with the proposal of the MMC, saying it was a “correct judgment.”