Ex-PNP chief-turned-senatorial candidate Guillermo Lorenzo T. Eleazar
Eleazar: Base next NCR alert level on science
FORMER Philippine National Police chief-turned senatorial candidate Guillermo Lorenzo T. Eleazar yesterday called on the government to carefully study the next Alert Status Level in the National Capital Region saying that it must always be determined by looking at the data, particularly the average daily attack rate and the healthcare utilization rate.
The former top cop also urged the government to base their decision on science in order to come up with the best possible decision.
“We need to hear the advice of our medical experts from the IATF if the infection rate is still at an alarming rate or has it decreased already. We also need to consider if there are sufficient beds for new cases so our healthcare capacity will not be overwhelmed if we decide to relax the restrictions,” he said.
“Ang bottomline is, dapat ay nakabase tayo sa siyensya at mga datos para tugma ang desisyon na ating gagawin sa kasalukuyang sitwasyon. Alam nating kailangang balansehin, pero mas dapat nating pakinggan ang medical experts na may data, bago tayo magbaba ng alert level,” the member of Philippine Military Academy ‘Hinirang’ Class of 1987 who is seeking a senatorial post on May 9 added.
According to Dr. Ted Herbosa, special adviser of the National Task Force Against COVID-19, the NCR could already de-escalate to Alert Level 2 from Alert Level 3 in February due to the steady decrease in the average daily attack rate (ADAR).
The ADAR refers to the percentage of new cases during a specific period. In NCR, the ADAR has gone down to 83.93 percent per every 100,000 population, but is still considered at a “severe” level.
Most of the new cases every day are being recorded in highly-urbanized cities outside NCR according to the Department of Health, an indication that the surge has now shifted to other regions.
Eleazar however, said that decision-makers should factor in the incident during the holiday season wherein the easing of restrictions was seen to be the reason behind the upsurge of COVID cases now.
“Maghinay-hinay tayo sa pagbaba ng restrictions dahil alalahanin natin ang nangyari noong panahon ng kaaskuhan na buong akala natin ay okay na pero heto na naman tayo at biglang taas ng COVID cases,” said the retired police general.
He also thanked the DOH for assuring that there are still enough COVID-dedicated beds for new patients and the healthcare utilization rate was still at a manageable level.
“The government should consider all these things kapag nagdecide na sila sa susunod na Alert Level sa NCR. Naiintindihan natin na kailangan na ulit makagalaw ng ekonomiya at magbukas ang mas maraming establisyimento pero sana ay huwag naman padalos-dalos ang ating gagawing desisyon. Kailangan balance lang ang kalusugan at ekonomiya,” Eleazar said.
