Gov’t considering total lockdown if ECQ violations continue-Palace

Malacañang said Thursday the Philippine government is considering a “total lockdown” if people would continue to violate the enhanced community quarantine.

“Nung huling press briefing ko po pinaanunsyo sa akin na fake news po yung kumakalat nang balita na magkakaroon ng total lockdown. Pero hindi po fake news na kinukunsidera ang total lockdown lalong lalo na kung magpapatuloy yung mga pasaway sa ating mga kalsada,” Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said in a virtual briefing.

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(During the last press briefing, I announced that the news that there will be a total lockdown is fake. But what is not fake news is total lockdown is being considered, especially if violators persist on the streets.)

Joint Task Force CoronaVirus Shield (JTF CV Shield) of the Philippine National Police reported there more than 101,000 individuals who violated the provisions of the Luzon-wide community quarantine.

Some 101,974 people were either warned, arrested, or fined after violating quarantine protocols.

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The Palace official urged the public to perform their duties by merely staying at home until the end of the extended Luzon-wide quarantine on April 30.

Total lockdown considered if ECQ violations continue

“Wag na po natin pahabain pa itong ECQ. Tumupad na po tayo sa ating obligasyon at kakaunting panahon na lamang po ang natitira sa ating ECQ. Isang linggo. Konting tulog na lang po ito. Pagtiyagaan na po natin,” Roque said.

(Let us not prolong the ECQ. Let us fulfill our obligation since there is a only a short time left on our ECQ. One week. It’s only a few sleeps away. Let’s be patient on this.)

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“Pero pag hindi po natin napa-flatten ang curve, hindi natin nabawasan ang mga kaso ng COVID, syempre po isa yan sa option na ikukunsidera,” he added.

(But if we don’t flatten the curve and the number of COIVD-19 cases do not decrease, it is one of the options that is being considered.)

Planning Secretary Ernesto Pernia on Thursday said it would be difficult for the Philippine economy to sustain another lockdown extension.

Spokesman of the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases and Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles said the government is in the progress of developing its “gameplan” after April 30.

Nograles noted, however, that there is no final decision yet on whether there will another lockdown or enhanced community quarantine extension by May.

As of April 15, the Philippines recorded 5,453 COVID-19 cases, 349 deaths, and 535 recoveries.