March 28, 2024

The government will not implement protracted lockdowns and the alert level system will remain, National Task Force (NTF) Against Covid-19 medical adviser, Dr. Ted Herbosa, said.

The government would stick to the implementation of localized lockdowns should there be an increase in Covid-19 cases in the country.

“The lockdown being implemented in China will not be implemented here. Our system now is anchored with alert level and localized lockdown,” Herbosa said in a televised public briefing.

Shanghai is reporting as many as 15,000 new cases a day and is experiencing city-wide lockdowns along with Beijing.

Even if an area will be placed under the maximum Alert Level 5 status, Herbosa said the government will not resort to protracted and region-wide lockdowns.

“We will only lock down those communities with high incidents of new cases,” he added.

Localized lockdowns will be imposed with an expanded mass testing approach so that infected individuals can be isolated immediately.

He said the government has more ways now to determine a positive patient.

“So, there’s no need to worry. We now understand more about the disease. We have vaccines and we see that the vaccine is really effective,” he added.

Apart from vaccination, Herbosa reminded adhering to public minimum health standards will continue to protect against the risks of the dreaded disease. – PNA