MPD cops in accordance with the directives of PNP chief Gen. Guillermo Eleazar and MPD director PBGen. Leo M. Francisco ensure peace and order on the streets of Manila during the enhanced community quarantine in the National Capital Region. Other photo shows Francisco holds a copy of People’s Tonight which bannered the PNP’s assurance to exercise maximum tolerance against ECQ violators. The continuing spike in COVID-19 cases has prompted the spokesperson of the Lung Center of the Philippines to propose an extension of the ECQ in Metro Manila. Photos by JON-JON C. REYES
Extended ECQ in Metro urged
CNN Philippines — The spokesperson of the Lung Center of the Philippines said the hard lockdown in the National Capital Region must be extended amid the soaring coronavirus cases.
“This is purely on the medical aspect kasi ngayon pa lang natatanggap ‘yung increasing cases from the community,” said Dr. Norberto Francisco, spokesperson of the Quezon City-based Lung Center, during an interview with state-run PTV’s Laging Handa.
Francisco stressed that the number of cases in the past days was increasing “exponentially”.
If there were no coronavirus spike, the Lung Center usually allots 35% of its operational capacity for COVID patients, he said.
But now, the hospital has already dedicated 76% for COVID patients.
“This is the highest,” he noted.
“Habang tumataas po ang kaso, dinadagdagan po namin ang percentage ng kama na naka-dedicate sa COVID,” Francisco said.
He also said the Lung Center has started deploying modular hospitals for moderate, severe, and critical COVID cases.
The Inter-Agency Task Force placed Metro Manila under the strictest enhanced community quarantine until August 20 amid the growing Delta fears.
The Department of Health earlier confirmed the local transmission of the highly transmissible variant. It also said the Delta variant was detected in all cities and municipality of the National Capital Region.
