EDITORIAL Pushing selective lifting of quarantine nationwide

A lawmaker has pushed for a “selective” lifting of quarantine in provinces and municipalities to resume economic activities amid the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic.

Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Elizaldy Co proposed that the quarantine might be lifted in island-provinces with zero to one case of Covid-19 in 15 days.

Quarantine can be lifted in municipalities with no recorded cases.

The lawmaker said selective quarantine might help ease the government’s burden during the pandemic.

He cited the projection of the World Health Organization that it may take at least two years before an effective vaccine may be discovered.

“The economy can’t wait and our resources can’t last that long,” Co said.

“The objective of quarantine lifting is to allow people in limited numbers and in select localities, to return to their jobs. We’re fighting a protracted war and until no vaccine is invented, government’s limited resources can’t support and feed all those who were displaced. We need to save government funds for the longer battle,” he added.

Co pointed out that the mass testing would give the government an overview of virus infection per area.

“With sufficient data, government can plan and identify which areas can reopen or will remain in full lockdown. If we implement selective quarantine, initial estimates indicate that we can save as much as P30 billion,” he said.

Co proposed that provinces or municipalities that have cases 75 percent less than the estimated outbreak threshold may not implement enhanced community quarantine but full lockdown must be implemented in their border or boundaries. He said this would protect the safe territory and its people from possible carriers of the disease from other provinces or municipalities.

Provinces and municipalities will also be automatically placed under a 30-day lockdown once a case is detected or confirmed, he said.