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Frontliners plead for ECQ

Aug 13, 2020
2 min read

by Mariella Cruz

SACRIFICE. Medical Professionals ask for a two-week Enhanced Community Quarantine in Mega Manila as they continue to fight the battle against COVID-19. © Dumosmog

Nearly 70 doctors’ associations all over the country plead President Rodrigo Duterte for a two week “timeout” as the National Capital Region (NCR) and Calabarzon ease to General Community Quarantine (GCQ) despite the rising number of cases last August 1, 2020.

“We propose that the ECQ be used as a timeout to refine our pandemic control strategies addressing the following urgent conditions or problems: hospital workforce efficiency; failure of contact tracing and quarantine; transportation safety; workplace safety; public compliance with self-protection; social amelioration,” read the open letter signed by the groups representing thousands of doctors in the Philippines.

The letter added that the health sector cannot hold the line for much longer, and the health system is one of the most vital players in winning the war against COVID-19.

"Healthcare workers are united in sounding off a distress signal to the nation: our healthcare system has been overwhelmed," said Dr. Mario Panaligan, president of the Philippine College of Physicians, the group that headed the virtual press conference.

Panaligan voiced that with some healthcare workers falling ill and with others battling their own fears and anxieties as they take care of their patients, the timeout is necessary.

“We are waging a losing battle against COVID-19, and we need to draw up a consolidated, definitive plan of action,” the open letter stated.

The Department of Health (DOH) also expressed their support for the doctors’ groups and said they are in dialogue with the medical frontliners about what the best steps are as they go forward.

"We support the call of our frontliners to ensure appropriate implementation of community quarantines to ensure the protection of our health workers," DOH said in a statement.

On August 7, the DOH reported 3,379 additional cases of the coronavirus disease which brought the country’s total to 93,354.