Physicians push for MECQ anew

By Dolly Yasa

 

BACOLOD City – A group of physicians again called on the city and provincial government officials to place this city and province of Negros Occidental under Modified Enhanced Community Quarantine to contain the spread of the coronavirus disease 2019 or COVID-19.

The group “Active Infectious Disease Consultants of Bacolod City” said in a letter that “rising cases of coronavirus disease 2019 or COVID-19 in Bacolod City and Negros Occidental deeply concerns the medical community due to the current sustained community transmission.”

Almost every day, more and more healthcare workers are being infected with COVID-19 infection, the group added.

The capacity of our hospitals and quarantine facilities are getting overwhelmed. We do not want this to be out of control like what is happening in the National Capital Region and Cebu.”

“We humbly reach out to your good office and highly recommend the optimal limitation of the movement of the people of Bacolod City and Negros Occidental by declaring a Modified Enhanced Community Quarantine,” he further said.

The physicians said the MECQ will contain COVID-19 cases and “prevent extensive spread” which will aid the medical sector in handling patients.

Two weeks of timeout would mean two weeks of saving lives.

They also suggested strict home or community quarantine for suspected cases who were swabbed and await their test results. Implementation of strict workplace health requirements and building and office closure for disinfection in cases of workplace clustering were also suggested.

“At the same time encourage work from home and skeletal workplace set-up,” they said.

“As practicing physicians, recognizing that we have sustained community transmission, we want to be proactive in preventing a catastrophic outcome.”

Earlier a group of physicians also pushed for a MECQ status for Bacolod and the province of Negros Occidental.

However, Mayor Evelio Leonardia said that it is the national Inter-Agency Task Force on COVID-19 that determines the quarantine status of the country and the regions.