What Happens after ECQ?

Shana Galman

The enhanced community quarantine has been extended again in selected areas including the NCR. This time, the ECQ is set to last until May 15, 2020. Its possible extension or modification is still being discussed by the IATF, health experts, and the President.

In the recent speech of President Duterte on April 27, he stated that he may lift the ECQ and declare MCQ (Modified Community Quarantine) instead. In modified community quarantine, the rules and regulations imposed are less strict than that of the ECQ. Additionally, some industries and services are finally allowed to operate while schools and other mass gatherings remain prohibited. This is one of the things that may happen after the ECQ.

However, if the curve is not flattened and the confirmed cases of COVID-19 are still rapidly increasing until May 15, the ECQ may be extended for the third time already. If this happens, some places will still need to continue to follow the ECQ guidelines until it is announced to be lifted.

There are a lot of unknown scenarios that may possibly take place after the ECQ. For most people, this could mean that the fight against COVID-19 is over. Yet, several health experts recommend that people should follow the new norms once the ECQ is done. The new norms include the mandatory wearing of face masks and the practice of physical distancing. These practices are needed to ensure that the transmission of the virus is being contained so that there will be no more lockdowns in the future.

After ECQ, many are expecting everything to go back to normal. However, for as long as there is an infected individual, and there is still no official vaccine developed, the possibility of getting everything back to normal is highly unlikely to happen.