Senator Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go said he will support suggestions of his fellow lawmakers, calling for the extension of the Luzon-wide enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) for at least two weeks to contain the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19).
“I am in favor of extending the Enhanced Community Quarantine for a few more weeks until the number of COVID-19 cases starts to substantially drop,” Go said in a statement.
He said it would be best to extend the ECQ since the government has increased its capacity to conduct more Covid-19 testing.
“It would be best to extend the ECQ so we can effectively isolate the positive cases from the rest of the community and eventually get rid of the disease,” he said.
Go’s colleagues in the Senate have recommended the extension of the ECQ with Senator Sherwin Gatchalian saying the lifting of the quarantine on April 14 will undermine the reliability of mass testing results and would only accelerate the spread of the virus.
“Without mass testing, we are totally blind. And when we are blind, the risk is higher of spreading the virus again, thereby wasting the 30-day Enhanced Community Quarantine”, Gatchalian said.
Senator Joel Villanueva earlier said the extension is necessary due to the rising number of confirmed Covid-19 cases.
The Department of Health on Sunday reported 152 new positive cases for Covid-19, bringing the total to 3,246 with 152 deaths. On the other hand, the number of recovered cases is now 64.
Go reiterated his appeal to the pubic to strictly obey the community quarantine measures to prevent the spread of the virus.
“Let me remind everyone that we are up against an invisible deadly enemy. Going out of your house remains dangerous at this time,” Go said. “My appeal to every Filipino, stay at home and follow the protocols.”
He also appealed anew to the Executive Branch to act swiftly in providing the necessary assistance to all Filipino families affected by the crisis.
“As a member of the Joint Oversight Committee overseeing the implementation of the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act, I urge all concerned agencies to perfect the distribution system on this first month of ECQ since we still do not know how long this crisis will last,” Go said. (PNA)
