No compelling reason yet for Metro lockdown: DILG

FILE: Interior Secretary Eduardo Año on Oct. 11, 2019 (PNA photo by Joey O. Razon)

MANILA – There is no pressing reason yet to place Metro Manila on lockdown amid the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) threat, Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Eduardo Año said on Wednesday.

“As of now, wala pang reason para mag-lockdown. Nasa Code Red Sub-level 1 pa lang tayo. (There is no reason yet for a lockdown. We are still under Code Red Sub-level 1.) We’ll go up to (Sub-level) 2 kapag may (if there is a) confirmed community transmission of the virus,” Año said in a text message when sought for comment.

He added that the size of the area for a community lockdown would depend on various circumstances.

“Movement will be strictly restricted because the purpose is to contain the virus,” Año said, noting that only the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF EID), led by the Department of Health, has the “authority” to declare Code Red Sub-level 2.

He also assured that the task force would come up with the protocol containing specific details before the issuance of a lockdown order.

If a lockdown is deemed necessary, Año said, local government units, with the support of the Philippine National Police and the Armed Forces of the Philippines, would be ready to enforce it.

“It’s 14 days because that’s the incubation (period) of the virus. With that, you’ll be able to stop the activity of the virus, its spread,” he said.

As of Tuesday, the number of confirmed Covid-19 cases in the country climbed to 33.

The World Health Organization (WHO) said symptoms of the Covid-19 include fever, tiredness, and dry cough while some may experience aches and pains, nasal congestion, runny nose, sore throat, and diarrhea.